When it comes to public safety, every second matters.

That’s especially true aboard vehicles, where every moment can mean the difference between life and death. In France, where school buses and intercity transport are central to daily mobility, the need for fast, effective evacuation tools has become a major public priority.

A revolutionary emergency window-breaking system, BREAKEE, has now been developed by the French engineering company Aguila Technologies to meet this urgent need.

It’s a story of visionary innovation, human-centered design, and life-saving intent.

Engineering with an urgent purpose

Founded in 2009 in Bidart, nestled in the Basque Country, Aguila Technologies began with a vision that went far beyond product development.

Hubert Forgeot, President and CEO, explains that the company was created “to harness embedded electronic engineering in the service of safety and life.”

Initially specialized in electronic and connected systems consultancy, Aguila quickly evolved to tackle high-stakes, real-world challenges, from maritime and road safety to medical device innovation. Rather than chasing trends, Aguila set out to transform research and innovation into tangible products that save lives and set new safety standards, both in France and internationally.

That mission took on new urgency after the Puisseguin bus crash in October 2015, one of France’s deadliest road accidents. A bus carrying elderly passengers collided with a truck and burst into flames, claiming 43 lives. It was a national tragedy, and a reminder of the critical importance of rapid evacuation in transport safety.

Soon after, national road safety authorities turned to Aguila for solutions - a call the company took to heart. The challenge was clear: design a system capable of breaking vehicle windows in seconds to enable swift evacuation in emergencies.

From concept to certified innovation

Aguila’s engineers rapidly developed an initial proof of concept - the foundation for a rigorous R&D process that led to today’s certified solution.

The product needed to facilitate the evacuation of people and smoke in emergencies aboard transport vehicles, while ensuring operational reliability, performance, and long-term durability. It had to be easy to use for passengers and drivers under stress (no missing hammers, frozen mechanisms, or confusing instructions) yet simple to install and maintain.

Within months, the Aguila team designed an autonomous electromechanical emergency window-breaker that could be installed directly on emergency exits. Passengers simply lift a safety cover and press a button to open the exit. Each device is also wirelessly connected to a central control unit, allowing the driver to activate all exits simultaneously if needed.

Behind that simplicity lies deep technical complexity: flammability resistance, electromagnetic compatibility, vibration endurance, energy efficiency, and human-factor engineering all had to meet stringent safety requirements.

Supported by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the project evolved rapidly through full-scale prototyping, field testing across diverse vehicle fleets, and final industrialization - with a strong commitment to “Made in France” production.

Local suppliers were prioritized, including Saft, also based in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The collaboration began early in the design phase, when Aguila’s engineers sought batteries with long lifespan, reliability, and performance in demanding environments.

“Their support during testing and accelerated aging phases helped our teams build expertise and saved us valuable months in development,” said Rémy Mokhtari, Head of Operations. “Plus, their battery technology was the only one to pass all our tests. That’s the best proof of its reliability and the know-how behind it.”

Scaling up to protect more lives

Today, BREAKEE is recognized by transport authorities as the first French-made emergency system fully compliant with the upcoming UNECE R107 regulation, which will become mandatory for all new passenger vehicles in 2026.

This article is based on a publication by our partner SAFT, adapted for the BREAKEE website.