A team driving an electric Nissan Ariya has successfully driven it from the North Pole to the South Pole in a truly adventurous drive which proved that you can take an electric car into the most inaccessible places on the planet.
30,000km adventure
Chris and Julie Ramsey, a husband-and-wife team of adventurers, took a modified Ariya and drove it on a ten-month, 30,000km adventure that began on the frozen wastes of the Arctic sea at the 1823 Magnetic North Pole and went all the way south.
While the Nissan Ariya they used was modified - by renowned polar mobility specialists Arctic Trucks to accommodate 39-inch BF Goodrich tyres - the battery pack and drive motors were the same ones you can buy in any four-wheel drive Ariya e-FORCE down at your local Nissan dealer.
Planning since 2017
The Ramseys are no strangers to EV adventure. In 2017, they competed in the tough 10,000km Mongol Rally in a Nissan Leaf, after which they began to plan this incredible electric trek across the planet. It was designed not merely as a challenge for them and the car but also as a way to generate interest and excitement in electric vehicles and creating a legacy of charging infrastructure behind.
Chris commented, "I can't believe we're at the South Pole. After so many years of planning, it doesn't feel real. I've always had full confidence in the amazing capabilities of electric vehicles, and I knew our Nissan Ariya would tackle everything thrown at it. But it's been far tougher than I anticipated. I'm proud that Pole to Pole has reached millions of people in parts of the world and enthused them about embracing EV in their day to day lives."
Incredible journey
Julie added, "This has been an incredible journey, with the people we've met, the friends we've made and the support we've received. Pole to Pole started out as just Chris and I, but the expedition team is now made of up of thousands of kind, forward-thinking people. These supporters and contributors want to make a difference and share the excitement of electric driving."
Allyson Witherspoon, Corporate Vice President of Nissan Global Marketing, Brand and Merchandizing, said, "On behalf of everyone at Nissan, congratulations on completing Pole to Pole. We all admire your daring spirit and passion for pushing the boundaries of electric adventure. It has been an extraordinary journey to follow and a point of pride for us at Nissan. It has shown how Nissan's innovative technology continues to deliver excitement, whether on a trip to the office or to the Antarctic!"