An inverter is provided. The inverter includes a DC bus having positive and negative rails and an inverter arm coupled between the positive and negative rails of the DC bus. The inverter arm includes first and second silicon carbide transistor having a current-conducting terminals connected to a central node of the inverter arm. The inverter further includes at least one silicon transistor having a third current-conducting terminal connected to the central node of the inverter arm. The inverter further includes a gate driver circuit configured to switch the first silicon carbide transistor and the second silicon carbide transistor to convert DC from said DC bus into AC, and to switch said at least one silicon transistor, when the inverter arm is subjected to a load-side short circuit current, to freewheel the load-side short circuit current.