Due to high requirements and increased integration of additional safety-relevant features in the vehicle electrical system architecture, this semiconductor-based solution can provide marked advantages when compared to a mechanical contactor, including considerably higher switching speeds. Particularly in the event of a short circuit, every microsecond counts in order to guarantee a safe disconnect. The Electric Smart Switch protects the supply circuit during charging and discharging bi-directionally in the event of overcharging or a short circuit. In addition, the Electric Smart Switch permits the pre-charging of the DC network to enhance the service life of system components.