Husband and wife adventurers, Chris and Julie Ramsey, are set to become the first people to drive from the North Pole to the South Pole in an all-electric Nissan. Olivia Palamountain reports
Nissan has teamed up with a British couple on a mission to prove that all-electric journeys are possible via an extreme challenge dubbed the “Pole to Pole expedition“.
Chris and Julie Ramseys will travel more than 17,000 miles in the new Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE (Nissan is the official vehicle partner for the adventure), raising awareness of the climate crisis and the critical role electric vehicles can play in reducing our carbon footprint.
The trip will cover 14 countries, exploring some of the world’s most extreme and beautiful terrains, from the Arctic through to North, Central and South America, before finally crossing to Antarctica.
The duo and their expedition crew will travel as sustainably as possible throughout, encountering diverse cultures and communities along the way while investigating solutions for sustainability issues, from polar melting to habitat loss and the environmental threats posed by the climate crisis.
The expedition is also working with industry leaders to adapt existing cutting edge wind and solar technology to charge their all-electric Ariya in the polar regions and turning their campsite into a portable micro-grid.
While the expedition is themed around the polar regions, further challenges are to be found crossing Arctic sea ice and traversing the Americas – think harsh environments comprising torrential rain and mud, soaring temperatures at the equator and the windswept altitude of the Andes.
With predicted temperatures ranging from -30⁰C to 30⁰C, the daring venture promises to demonstrate “just how powerful, fun and thrilling electric vehicles can be”.
Chris Ramsey, founder of Pole to Pole Expedition, says: “Our mission is to show that electric vehicles can tackle the harshest of environments – from the bitter cold of the poles to the hot and humid jungles of South America, and illustrate that they can meet the demands of drivers around the world, and encourage the switch to zero-emissions transport.
“To that end, we are thrilled that Nissan has joined the expedition. As a long-term Nissan LEAF owner and driver, I’m eager to get behind the wheel of my Ariya and put it to the ultimate test on this incredible 17,000-mile journey.”
In preparation for the brutal Arctic and Antarctic conditions, the Ramseys’ expedition Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE will be modified and equipped by Arctic Trucks, a renowned specialist in polar vehicles.
They will also provide logistical support and expertise to help plan a safe and accessible route through the most remote and hostile environments on Earth.
Emil Grimsson, chairman of Arctic Trucks, says: “For over 20 years we have specialised in providing logistical support, engineering expertise and expedition planning for projects in both Polar Regions. This will be one of the most ambitious missions that we’ve worked on, but demonstrating the success of electric vehicles in these extreme climates will be crucial to replacing the fleet of combustion engine vehicles that work in these regions with clean alternatives.”
Pole to Pole will also see the implementation of multiple legacy projects from the electrification of Polar exploration vehicles through to the expansion of the existing electric charging infrastructure in the Americas and an education partnership with international kids news platform, News-o-Matic.