A high-current contact device includes a contact element and a cooling device. The cooling device has a coolant container thermally connected to the contact element, an absorber container arranged at a distance from the coolant container and the contact element, a fluid line extending between the coolant container and the absorber container, and a valve arranged in the fluid line. The coolant container has a coolant and the absorber container has an absorber material. The coolant container is fluidly connected to the absorber container in a valve open position and is fluidly separated from the absorber container in a valve closed position. The coolant changes to a gaseous phase in the coolant container to cool the contact element. The fluid line conveys the coolant in the gaseous phase from the coolant container to the absorber container, and the absorber material absorbs the coolant in the gaseous phase.