Pole to Pole electric vehicle expedition crosses the equator.
- Nissan Ariya continues solid support of the husband-and-wife journey
- Expedition vehicle has now driven more than 20,000 kms
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YOKOHAMA, Japan, September 22, 2023 – Husband and wife adventurers, Chris and Julie Ramsey, today crossed the equator in their world-first expedition driving an EV from the 1823 Magnetic North Pole to the South Pole in Antarctica.
With their expedition-ready Nissan Ariya, the couple has so far travelled more than 20,000 km, traversing the challenging Arctic Sea ice, melting Canadian ice roads, and exploring North and Central America before reaching the equator line in Quito, Ecuador.
Pole to Pole was devised as the ultimate test for an electric car, with the hope of accelerating the adoption of EVs as part of the solution to tackle the climate crisis, whilst also shining a light on the positive action of people, communities and projects along the route.
“It’s been an incredible experience so far. Our Expedition Ariya captures the interest of so many people on our route and we’ve been privileged to be hosted and helped by the kindest and most fascinating people, who all embrace the positivity and hope that Pole to Pole represents.”
Reflecting on their Northern Hemisphere adventures, Julie commented
“I set out to really push the limits of EV and show the world just how capable and exciting they are. Our expedition Nissan Ariya has performed so well; it hasn’t let us down and it’s created so much interest from people along the way. It gives me confidence we can complete this expedition despite the challenging distances, terrains and temperatures we will face in the Southern Hemisphere. Antarctica will be our toughest test yet, but we have the experience of our time in the Arctic to learn from and I’m working on innovations that can help us reach the South Pole at the end of December.
Sharing his thoughts on the journey ahead from the equator, Chris said
The couple will now face the stunning but punishing landscapes and climates of the Southern Hemisphere on route to the South Pole, which they aim to reach by the end of the year.
Follow the Pole to Pole adventure on Instagram @PoletoPoleEV and using the live tracker on https://poletopoleev.com/expedition-live/
The expedition-ready Nissan Ariya
The expedition-ready Nissan Ariya has undergone some minor modifications to help it cope with the extreme terrains that the team are set to face along their route. Most notably the suspension has been lifted and wheel arches extended to accommodate huge 39-inch tires that will help the car ‘float’ on deep snow and sea ice. No modifications were made to the Ariya’s battery and powertrain, which remain standard, or the e-4ORCE system, Nissan’s advanced electric all-wheel-control technology.
As the couple travels through the remote polar regions, they will tow an innovative renewable energy unit, which includes an extendable wind turbine and foldable solar panels. The prototype will take advantage of the expected high winds and long daylight hours, harnessing the natural energy to charge the Ariya’s battery, whilst Chris and Julie take well-earned breaks from driving in the challenging environment. The team hope the charging innovation can have a positive legacy by inspiring a transition to electric vehicles for future polar exploration.