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Breaking Boundaries: The First Electric Vehicle Expedition to the South Pole in a Nissan Ariya

December 31, 2023

Chris and Julie Ramsey completed a historic South Pole expedition in an electric vehicle, the Nissan Ariya, the first of its kind.
The journey spanned 30,000 km over ten months, from the Magnetic North Pole to the South Pole, with the Ariya requiring minimal modifications.
The success underscores electric vehicles’ versatility in extreme conditions.

Chris and Julie Ramsey, a daring husband and wife team, have successfully completed an expedition to the South Pole in Antarctica. This marks the first time any vehicle, especially an electric one, has made such a journey. The Ramseys’ ‘Pole to Pole’ journey was completed in the all-electric Nissan Ariya.

Image showcasing Chris and Julie Ramsey breaking boundaries in the First Electric Vehicle Expedition to the South Pole in a Nissan Ariya

Celebrating the Triumphs and Challenges of the ‘Pole to Pole’ Expedition

Chris said, “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.”

Their remarkable ‘Pole to Pole’ journey, which spanned 10 months and covered 30,000 km, began on the icy surface of the Arctic Sea at the 1823 Magnetic North Pole. The duo then navigated through the varied terrains and climates of North, Central, and South America before reaching the South Pole.

Building a Global Community of Electric Driving Enthusiasts during South Pole Adventure

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 up of thousands of kind, forward-thinking people. These supporters and contributors want to make a difference and share the excitement of electric driving.”

Across long distances and challenging off-road terrains, the all-electric expedition vehicle, a Nissan Ariya with e-4ORCE all-wheel control, has passed the toughest tests at extreme temperatures and high altitudes. The vehicle, which had no modifications to the powertrain or battery, was modified by polar mobility specialists, Arctic Trucks, to accommodate 39-inch BF Goodrich tires.

These alterations equipped the Nissan Ariya to handle the harshest of polar conditions, further demonstrating the resilience of electric vehicle technology. The success of this daring ‘Pole to Pole’ expedition reinforces the potential of electric mobility, showcasing that it’s not just an urban solution but can be utilized effectively in the world’s most demanding environments, too.Meta Description: Ramseys’ historic ‘Pole to Pole’ EV journey in a Nissan Ariya, from Arctic to South Pole, showcases electric vehicle resilience in extreme conditions.