Schaltbau introduces Eddicy C303: Exploring DC technology for electrification

Schaltbau launches Eddicy bidirectional contactors at Elecrama 2025. In this interview, Steffen Munz, Group CEO of Schaltbau GmbH, discusses the relevance of the newly launched brand and the importance of advanced contactors for the electric mobility and energy storage industry.

You recently introduced Eddicy C303 at Elecrama. What’s the story behind Eddicy?

Schaltbau is and has been a leader in direct current (DC) technology for over 95 years during which we have become a trusted supplier of the rail industry worldwide. To cater to the uniquely poised high growth industrial segment, Schaltbau has launched the new Eddicy brand.

With our Eddicy solutions and products, we are dedicated to now also advancing electrification in the energy and e-mobility sectors, providing safe, sustainable and energy-efficient solutions.

Where is the link between solutions for rail and products for energy and e-mobility?

It is our DC expertise. Today, DC technology is experiencing a renaissance with the energy transition because it can also be used wherever energy is charged or stored. Schaltbau manufactures contactors, connectors and switches that are required for switching DC circuits – also in energy and e-mobility applications.

Our decades of experience in DC technology is currently a globally sought-after competence. Further, our solutions and products, which meet the challenging rail standards, easily comply with the reliable and stringent demands for the new energy and e-mobility applications.

And who is seeking solutions by Schaltbau, or Eddicy, for that matter?

Not only is the rail industry growing, as old diesel locomotives are being replaced by electric ones: our Eddicy DC products are now required for everything that is to be operated electrically and with renewable energies: Cars, buses, trucks, ships, agricultural machinery, forklift trucks and much more.

Then there are applications that produce energy, such as solar parks where our contactors are used in the inverter applications, or for storage of renewable energy or charging of electric vehicles. And DC grids will also play a much more prominent role in industrial manufacturing.

By providing reliable and forward-looking solutions, Eddicy empowers industries to harness the full potential of electrification – from a business, energy efficiency and sustainability perspective.

What’s the benefit for your customers?

Our purpose is to enable the economy and society to unlock the full potential of electrification.

The benefit of DC technology is that it can be used more efficiently without the usual losses that occur when direct current is converted into alternate current (AC) and vice versa.

In that sense, the benefit for customers is that our products help them increase energy efficiency and performance while safely connecting and disconnecting direct current loads. In addition, Schaltbau products provide reliability that ensures non-stop performance, which is critical for new energy and e-mobility applications.

Can you give an example?

EV Charging stations is an important application that immediately comes to mind. Charging with direct current enables electric vehicles to cover long ranges in a relatively short charging time.

Extremely important here is the use of galvanic isolation – which our solutions provide – to ensure safe charging processes. In the event of a fault, this function interrupts the flow of electricity under full load both in the charging station and the vehicle. This requires the contactors to be capable of not only to carry the full load currents but also be capable of switching ON-Load at the rated currents. This will be particularly vital when ultra-fast charging stations become available. They can operate with a voltage of up to 1000 volts and deliver a charging current of up to 500 amps – making charging as fast as refueling and fulfilling the highest safety requirements.

What’s your take on the Indian electric vehicles market?

It’s hard to overestimate India’s relevance as the fifth largest and fastest-growing economy in the world and its share in world trade and global supply chains. We witness the Indian market for electric vehicles (EVs) to grow exponentially, and the government’s initiatives are driving this growth, aiming for 30% of private car sales to be electric by 2030. Our aim is to support longer ranges, faster battery charging and energy efficiency to increase e-mobility adoption. And our local production capabilities ensure that we can meet the growing demand for high-quality electrical components which are manufactured in India.

What is the role of Schaltbau India & are you going to produce the products in India?

Schaltbau India Pvt. Ltd. is a 100% subsidiary of Schaltbau GmbH, Germany. The company was established in September 2009 and is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company.

Schaltbau India adopted the “Make in India” initiative way back in 2014 with the establishment of the manufacturing unit at Navi Mumbai. In 2022, Schaltbau India further expanded its manufacturing base in India by setting up a state-of-the-art second facility in Manesar, Haryana. These plants not only have manufacturing but also in-house type test facilities which enable us to cover complete life cycle management from design to end of life of our products.

Schaltbau India’s locally manufactured products qualify as a “Make in India” source and have been approved by industrial clients in the Rail and EV sectors.

What are the different application areas where the Eddicy C303 contactor finds use?

The C303 contactor series is designed to support applications with greater power needs up to 1000VDC and upto 500A currents, such as energy storage systems, fast-charging stations, electric vehicles, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and test benches for batteries.

These applications require efficient, reliable, and durable switching to manage bidirectional energy flow, minimize power loss, and ensure safe operation under extreme conditions. The C303 does exactly that for applications ranging from megawatt-scale battery storage to high-power EV charging and industrial electrification.

Can you tell us about the technical specifications of the C303 contactor? How do they compare to previous generations or competitor products?

The C303 contactor is a compact, high-performance switching device for applications with high making and short-time currents or large capacity. It features:

• A high breaking capacity of up to 1.5 megawatts

• A high making capacity (up to 2kA without contact welding)

• Handles short circuits carrying up to 5,000 amps without contact welding

• Has full bidirectionality to ensure the safe breaking of high-power loads

• Using permanent magnetic arc extinguishing eliminates the risk of explosion and prevents damage and rapid aging.

• With a very low contact resistance of slightly over 100 µΩ, it also shows best-in-class performance with low contact warming and low power loss due to optimized contact pills.

The 25% energy cost savings is a key unique selling point. What are the specific technical advancements contributing to this improved efficiency?

We want our solutions to be viable from a business and sustainability standpoint, so we aim for a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) due to enhanced efficiency and durability. The ultra-low contact resistance feature of the C303 helps to minimize power losses and heat generation, while robust design elements extend operational lifespan, reducing the frequency of replacements and associated downtime.

You mention the C303 can handle short circuits up to 5,000A without contact welding. What is the duration of this short-circuit withstand capability?

The C303 can withstand short-circuit currents up to 20 milliseconds, staying fully functional with no contact welding.

Can you explain the three coil control options and the performance trade-offs between them?

Each option addresses specific operational requirements, allowing for flexibility in various high-power DC applications.

• The first version, Ecosave, features a standard coil combined with an integrated economy circuit, utilizing Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for efficient electronic coil control. This design optimizes power consumption during both activation and holding phases, making it ideal for energy-conscious applications.

• The second version, the High Efficiency Drive (HED), is equipped with an optimized coil, which ensures maximum efficiency without the need for an additional economy circuit. This simplifies the design and makes it suitable for systems where space and efficiency are critical.

• The third version, the Pre-Charge, is designed as a pre-charging contactor and includes a standard coil without an economy circuit. It’s specifically tailored to limit high inrush currents when main contactors are activated, protecting system components during power-up sequences.

Beyond the technical specifications, what are the key advantages of the C303 from a customer’s perspective regarding, say, maintenance requirements and integration with existing systems?

C303 contactors are designed to be largely maintenance-free and are constructed with high-quality materials and robust engineering. They are built to reduce the frequency of maintenance interventions. Also, we want to make the integration with existing systems as seamless as possible with a compact and versatile design.

The unique Air-break technology makes these contactors unique and ensures higher switching capabilities as compared to the gas-sealed devices. The inclusion of an auxiliary switch with a mirror contact function enhances safety and facilitates easy integration into existing control circuits.

What is Schaltbau’s approach to supporting customers integrating the C303 into their systems?

We see our customers as partners and, therefore, provide comprehensive documentation of our applications, an experienced technical support team and our worldwide network of sales and service locations to ensure that our customers receive timely support and local assistance to meet their goals. Our highly knowledgeable application engineering teams work closely with the customers at the design stage to ensure successful validations.

With regard to the C303, we stand ready in India and elsewhere to ensure the successful implementation and reliable operation of the C303 contactors in our customers’ e-mobility and energy applications.

Also Read: Focus on localisation and export of contactors for EV applications | Schaltbau