An inverter comprises a first switch coupled to an input of an output filter and a positive dc bus, a second switch coupled to the input of the output filter and a negative dc bus, a first freewheeling apparatus coupled to the first switch, the second switch and ground, a first soft switching network coupled to the first freewheeling apparatus and the first switch, wherein the first soft switching network is configured such that the first switch is of a first zero voltage transition during a turn-on process of the first switch and a second soft switching network coupled to the first freewheeling apparatus and the second switch, wherein the second soft switching network is configured such that the second switch is of a second zero voltage transition during a turn-on process of the second switch.