Mom uses electric car to power son’s dialysis machine during power cut
- A series of storms impacted South East Queensland from 24-26 December
- The following power cut could have been life threatening for a young boy on renal dialysis
- However, his quick-thinking mom used her smarts – and her electric car – to save the day
Published on Jan 22, 2024 at 3:21 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jan 24, 2024 at 1:24 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
An Australian woman has proven the benefits of an electric car go beyond environmental and financial – they can also save lives when the power goes out.
Kristy Holmes from Queensland, on the Gold Coast of Australia, used her electric car to power her son’s dialysis machine during a blackout in December.
And her story has revealed the remarkable possibilities of the modern technology of electric cars in emergency situations.
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The family’s home lost power after storms and flash flooding on Christmas Day 2023.
In a remarkable feat of ingenuity, the 42-year-old mom powered her 11-year-old son’s dialysis machine with her electric car.
Without skipping a beat, the quick-thinking and resourceful mom hooked the live-saving machinery to her BYD Atto 3.
The Chinese brand is a fierce competitor for Tesla that is currently outselling Elon Musk’s brand, but isn’t currently available in the US.
The “vehicle to load” feature of the electric car uses the car’s battery to charge household appliances.
Making a life-and-death realisation, she was able to utilize this, using power from her electric car battery to run her son’s dialysis machine.
The capabilities of the electric car were a lifeline for preteen, Leiv, who’s about to go on the transport list.
Had her electric car not had those capabilities, her son would have had to be transported to Brisbane amid the power cut.
“We ran it off the car – we only needed to use it for the one night,” Holmes told the Guardian.
“We could have run it for at least four nights and then have to go charge the car somewhere.”
It’s worth noting that an increasing number of electric car manufacturers are claiming vehicles can act as a domestic power supply.
Plus, new charging roads cropping up globally means finding a place to power up is becoming increasingly simple.
EV owners can charge devices such as laptops, TVs, and refrigerators, as well as power coffee machines and other appliances.
“It’s the most amazing car I’ve ever owned. Now it’s been able to save my son during a storm, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to a petrol car again,” Holmes enthused.
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London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
