Rivian R1T. Source: @ChrisYangMD/Twitter
The first “Rivian-powered vasectomy” has reportedly taken place in Austin, Texas, performed by a physician after a power outage forced him to find an alternative power source, his recently acquired Rivian R1T.
It’s yet another example of how vehicle-to-load capabilities of certain electric vehicles can be used to deal with situations that emerge in times of blackout.
The Rivian R1T is an all-electric ute (known as a pickup in the US) that alongside its R1S SUV stablemate comes with a range of groundbreaking features.
Available from $A73,000 (around $A108,000 converted), the power in its large underfloor battery can be accessed via three-pin sockets to power devices and other electric items.
The news of the operation emerged when Dr. Christopher Yang posted about it on Twitter, saying, “I performed what is likely the world’s first Rivian powered vasectomy today.
“Power in clinic went out, patient didn’t want to reschedule cause he already had time off. Electrocautery was normal, procedure went great!”
The surgery used an extension cord to hook up the doctor’s surgical equipment, powering it with his brand-new Rivian R1T.
Since posting the story of the “cutting” edge operation, the tweet has been liked 7,000 times and shared more than 700 times.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.
At the All Energy Conference in Melbourne, Amber CEO Chris Thompson discusses the launch of…
Mine engineering group unveils what it cheekily describes as the world’s first electric car made…
A trio of companies from New Zealand and Australia hail major milestone as they fill…
A site has been secured for Australia's biggest heavy electric truck depot as a Windrose…
BYD agrees to battery warranty for V2G trials, removing a major stumbling block for the…
Honda to finally bring an EV to Australia, in the form of a small city…