A coil of an electric motor is cooled by refrigerant. A controller for the electric motor controls a current supplied to the coil within a range less than or equal to a predetermined maximum value. A temperature detection section detects either a temperature of the coil or a temperature about the coil. When a detection temperature that is detected by the temperature detection section prior to activation of the electric motor reaches a predetermined reference temperature, a limiting section executes a limiting control to limit an upper limit value of the current supplied to the coil to a limiting value that is less than the maximum value. Accordingly, the coil of the electric motor is protected without stopping the operation of the electric compressor immediately after activation.