BATTERY FOR HYBRID VEHICLES WITH A SAFETY DEVICE FOR INTERRUPTING A HIGH-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT

A rechargeable battery includes a housing and a plurality of electrochemical cells that are electrically connected to one another and form a high-voltage circuit. A high-voltage socket on the housing comprises two electrical poles, and the high-voltage socket is configured to be connected to a high-voltage plug. A catch on the high-voltage socket is configured to interact with a locking element on the high-voltage plug for locking the high-voltage plug to the high-voltage socket. A low-voltage circuit includes an integrated contactor for interrupting and closing the high-voltage circuit. A service plug connector is used for closing and disconnecting the low-voltage circuit; the service plug connector interacts with the high-voltage plug such that the high-voltage plug cannot be withdrawn from the high-voltage socket until the service plug connector has been removed from the rechargeable battery, and is configured to block the locking element on the high-voltage plug of the rechargeable battery.