Problems with accuracy reading position detection signal peaks and minute phase differences in the detection current make motor drive control easily susceptible to differences in motor characteristics. The rotor position is determined based on whether or not a terminal difference voltage, which is the difference voltage between the motor terminal voltage and the pseudo-neutral-point voltage when the motor phases are selectively energized, exceeds a specific threshold value. The phase energized to start the motor is determined based on this determination and the motor is energized accordingly to start. Instead of switching directly from the search step at the initial rotor position to the back-EMF voltage mode, a search and start mode that creates initial rotor speed sufficient to start the motor is executed before entering the back-EMF voltage mode.