Abstract: Compared with the ordinary electric drive system, there is a wide range of explosive environment formed by flammable mixtures in modern industrial production such as coal mines and petrochemicals. The existence of potential ignition sources （ｅｌｅｃｔｒｉｃ ｓｐａｒｋ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｒｍａｌ ｓｕｒｆａｃｅ） in the variable frequency drive system may cause explosion, resulting in casualties and heavy losses. Firstly, this paper introduces standards, research status of explosion protection technology of variable-frequency drive system in explosive environment, and summarizes the structure of frequency conversion drive system, flameproof frequency converter, flameproof motors, in explosive atmosphere, discusses the problems in the research of various parts of the system and special environment applications. Finally, the development of the reliability of the variable frequency drive system under extreme environments, the safety assessment technology of the variable frequency drive system used in explosive atmosphere, and the new integrated flameproof variable frequency drive technology are prospected.