In view of the increasing global market for high voltage (HV) vacuum circuit breakers in the voltage rating ≥ 72.5 kV, it is necessary to focus our attention on developing the vacuum interrupters (VIs) for these ratings. VCBs have already penetrated the 72.5 kV market and trials are progressing with introducing up to 145 kV VIs into the power networks. Prototype of the 252 kV VI has already been demonstrated.