A surgical bipolar forceps instrument, comprising: a shaft comprising a first electrical pathway and a second electrical pathway; a closable jaw assembly, comprising: a first jaw, comprising a first electrically-conductive portion in electrical communication with said first electrical pathway; and a second jaw, comprising a second electrically-conductive portion in electrical communication with said second electrical pathway; a pivot, wherein at least one of said first jaw and said second jaw are rotatable about said pivot; a drive system comprising an electric motor operably engaged with at least one of said first jaw and said second jaw; a power supply system in electrical communication with said first electrical pathway and said second electrical pathway configured to apply electrosurgical energy to the tissue through at least one of said first electrically-conductive portion and said second electrically-conductive portion; and a control system configured to control when the mechanical cutting force and the electrosurgical energy are applied to the tissue; characterized in that: the first jaw comprises a first tissue cutting blade; the second jaw comprises a second tissue cutting blade; the drive system is configured to apply a mechanical cutting force to the tissue through the rotation of at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw; and the control system is configured to co-ordinate the application of both the mechanical cutting force and the electrosurgical energy such that the mechanical cutting force and electrosurgical energy are applied simultaneously. a shaft comprising a first electrical pathway and a second electrical pathway; a closable jaw assembly, comprising: a first jaw, comprising a first electrically-conductive portion in electrical communication with said first electrical pathway; and a second jaw, comprising a second electrically-conductive portion in electrical communication with said second electrical pathway; a first jaw, comprising a first electrically-conductive portion in electrical communication with said first electrical pathway; and a second jaw, comprising a second electrically-conductive portion in electrical communication with said second electrical pathway; a pivot, wherein at least one of said first jaw and said second jaw are rotatable about said pivot; a drive system comprising an electric motor operably engaged with at least one of said first jaw and said second jaw; a power supply system in electrical communication with said first electrical pathway and said second electrical pathway configured to apply electrosurgical energy to the tissue through at least one of said first electrically-conductive portion and said second electrically-conductive portion; and a control system configured to control when the mechanical cutting force and the electrosurgical energy are applied to the tissue; the first jaw comprises a first tissue cutting blade; the second jaw comprises a second tissue cutting blade; the drive system is configured to apply a mechanical cutting force to the tissue through the rotation of at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw; and the control system is configured to co-ordinate the application of both the mechanical cutting force and the electrosurgical energy such that the mechanical cutting force and electrosurgical energy are applied simultaneously.