Nissan AWD EV completes Pole to Pole trek
Ten months after they set off in their specially prepared Nissan Ariya from the magnetic North Pole, Chris and Julie Ramsay have completed their overland journey to the South Pole. Crossing incredibly varied terrains, as well as experiencing vast differences in temperature and weather, the husband-and-wife adventurers covered 30,000km in the Ariya, proving the capability of the crossover EV and its ‘e-4ORCE’ all-wheel drive electric powertrain. A first for an EV, the Ramsay’s Pole to Pole trek is also the first to be completed by a car of any kind.
While the Ariya was modified in a few key areas, including the addition of a roof rack, weather monitoring equipment and bespoke rear storage, a suspension lift and extended wheelarches to accommodate 39-inch BF Goodrich tyres, the EV powertrain and battery remained standard. With e-4ORCE AWD, the Ariya uses a pair of electric motors – one on each axle – generating a combined 226kW and 600Nm. The supporting battery is an 87kWh unit (the largest available for the Ariya), providing around 460kms of emissions-free driving between charges.
In the most remote sections of the route, power was provided by a bespoke trailer that the Ariya towed, fitted with a wind turbine and folding solar panels.
After completing the trek in December, Chris Ramsay 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.”
Julie Ramsay 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.”
Planning for Pole to Pole started back in 2017 after the Ramsays completed the Mongol Rally in a Nissan LEAF - the first time an EV had been used to tackle the 10,000km event. They recognised back then how much interest a successful pole-to-pole drive could generate in electric vehicles, as well as creating a legacy of charging infrastructure. Believing that Pole to Pole was the ultimate EV adventure, the pair made it a reality through a commitment to collaboration and innovation with like-minded partners, led by Nissan.
“On behalf of everyone at Nissan, congratulations on completing Pole to Pole,” said Allyson Witherspoon, Corporate vice president, Nissan Global Marketing, Brand and Merchandising. “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.”