Eaton has announced that its eMobility business has received a contract to supply its Breaktor circuit protection technology to a European vehicle manufacturer for use in multiple models of 800V battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The Breaktor technology is a new advanced circuit protection solution for BEVs that combines the function of fuses, pyro switches and contactors into a single coordinated device. As EV power levels increase, the Breaktor circuit protection solution solves the ever-increasing coordination challenge between fuses and contactors while offering fast, safe and reliable protection for high-power battery and inverter systems.

“To meet EV consumer demand for longer range and faster charging, new EVs have increased power levels, which drives the need for advanced circuit protection for these high-voltage systems,” Eaton president, eMobility Scott Adams says.

“Our Breaktor technology offers improved EV system safety and reliability with a simplified architecture. In fact, one Breaktor circuit protection unit can replace up to 15 components. We are excited to bring such a critical part of the EV system to this world-class vehicle manufacturer.”

The Breaktor circuit protection technology is an innovative solution that leverages Eaton’s industrial electrical technology and automotive expertise to deliver performance and reliability while simplifying architecture. With a less than four-millisecond actuation for short-circuit faults up to 900V and 25,000A, the Breaktor circuit protection technology improves vehicle safety and protects components from any level of overcurrent condition more effectively than traditional circuit protection methods.

Additionally, it’s resettable like a circuit breaker, enabling reactivation of the device following a functionality check and reducing cost for both the OEM and consumer.