Designed to reduce mating forces and stress on the operator, a new latch-and-release system for the EBC320 rapid-charge connectors promises to improve ergonomics and safety. The system locks the mated connector halves together to prevent unmating until the release lever is actuated. Although EBC320 rapid-charge connectors have low mating for their power capacity, the battery connector may be mated five, six, or more times a day. The latch-and-release system is said to provide over a 3:1 mechanical advantage to help reduce the fatigue that battery-charging operators can experience from the successive manual matings required by traction batteries.