10 months ago, Chris and Julie Ramsey were at the 1823 Magnetic North Pole. Since then, they have covered over 30,000 km or 18,641 miles in a Nissan Ariya, Nissan’s flagship electric SUV. Spanning three continents, North and South America and Antarctica, it is the first-ever pole-to-pole drive completed and was described as ‘an incredible journey’ by Julie Ramsay.
‘After so many years of planning, it doesn’t feel real’
The idea for Pole to Pole began in 2017, after Julie and Chris completed the Mongol Rally, a 10,000 km challenge across Europe, ending in Russia. The couple completed this in a Nissan LEAF, making it the first EV to ever complete the rally. This event inspired them to leave a lasting legacy and they wanted to promote electric vehicles and inspire further charging infrastructure.
An All-terrain EV
The Ariya endured all sorts of challenging conditions, such as extreme temperatures and high altitudes. Despite this, it completed the journey with no modifications to the powertrain or the battery. Using Nissan’s e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system, the Ariya was modified by Arctic Trucks to allow it to uses 39-inch BF Goodrich tyres. Chris commented that it was ‘far tougher than I anticipated’ and the journey is testament to the durability and reliability of the Nissan.
The Seal of Approval
Nissan partnered with the pair to make the gruelling adventure take place. Supplying the Ariya, the Ramsey’s mission aligns perfectly with their plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. After they arrived in the Antarctic, Nissan congratulated the daring couple and claimed it showed how Nissan’s innovative technology continues to deliver excitement, whether on a trip to the office or to the Antarctic!”
Promoting Electric Adventures
Since their plan for the expedition began over 5 years ago, the Ramseys have created a community of EV lovers and showcased the ability of sustainable transport. On their website, they discuss the next stage of their journey in Canada where they plan to share their story and inspire others to pursue a more sustainable future.
