Electrically controlled switching device including shape memory alloy element

An electrically controlled switching device comprising:

• a support;
• a first contact coupled to the support;
• a second contact coupled to the support and movable toward and away from the first contact;
• a shape memory alloy (SMA) element operably connected with the second contact and configured to transform between a first shape and a different second shape responsive to an electrical pulse heating the SMA element to a transformation temperature;
• and
• a controller configured to control the electrical pulse at least between a pre-heating state and a transformation state, wherein in the pre-heating state the controller controls the electrical pulse being delivered to the SMA element so as to heat the SMA element to a first desired temperature, which is less than the transformation temperature, and wherein in the transformation state the controller controls the electrical pulse being delivered to the SMA element so as to heat the SMA element to a second desired temperature, which is equal to or greater than the transformation temperature.