Husband and wife adventurers Chris and Julie Ramsey have driven an all-electric Nissan Ariya from the Magnetic North Pole to the South Pole in Antarctica. In all, the couple drove almost 18,000 miles over 10 months to complete the journey. And they completed the expedition in an Ariya that had no modifications to its powertrain or battery. Here’s the lowdown on the Pole to Pole expedition.

Formal Name: Pole to Pole Electric Vehicle Expedition

The trip was formally called the Pole to Pole Electric Vehicle Expedition, but its often just referred to as Pole to Pole. Chris and Julie began planning it in 2017 after the pair had completed the Mongol Rally in their Nissan Leaf. During the Mongol Rally the duo traveled 8,000 miles through 13 countries and charged the Leaf 111 times. Fun fact: The couple made history at the Mongol Rally by being the first to use an EV to tackle the challenge.

Pole to Pole Began on the Frozen Arctic Sea

The trip began in March 2023 on the frozen Arctic Sea at the 1823 Magnetic North Pole. The overall route consisted of varied terrains and conditions of North, Central, and South America. It included traversing the most remote continent on the planet to reach the South Pole. Along the way, the team encountered ice fields, deep snow, steep mountain climbs, and challenging desert dunes. The pair successfully completed Pole to Pole in December 2023. This is the first time any car, let alone an EV, has completed such a journey.

About the Pole to Pole Nissan Ariya

The Nissan Ariya was prepped by Arctic Trucks. Arctic Trucks creates some of the most capable, awe inspiring off-road vehicles you’ll find anywhere. Nissan design and engineering teams collaborated with the company to prepare the Ariya for the trip. However, modifications to the Ariya were purposely minimal. The biggest mod was to tweak the car to allow fitment of 39-inch-diameter BFGoodrich tires. Other than that, the vehicle was stock with no modifications to the powertrain or battery. The Ariya was equipped with e-4ORCE all-wheel control, which has passed the toughest tests at extreme temperatures and high altitudes. Nissan says that the combination of e-4ORCE and the 39-inch tires enabled the car to tackle extreme terrain while giving Chris and Julie the necessary comfort and control to reach the South Pole.

Espresso Machine, Drone, Towable Wind Turbine, and More

There were some other things available to the team as they traveled. Chris is a coffee lover, so the Ariya is fitted with an integrated espresso machine and a good supply of coffee. There was also a roof-mounted drone that launches directly from the utility unit on the roof. Furthermore, there’s a weather station to keep the team in the know. Finally, to provide portable, renewable energy in the polar regions there’s a towable prototype trailer that includes a packable, lightweight wind turbine and solar panels. These capitalized on the high winds and long daylight hours to provide power for the EV’s battery when Chris and Julie stop to rest.

Chris’s Take on the Ariya

Prior to leaving for Pole to Pole, Chris Ramsey commented: “One of the things that underpins all the adventures we do is that we take a standard production EV and aim to make minimal changes to clearly demonstrate its real, everyday capabilities, regardless of where you are driving it. Our Nissan Ariya is no different as the vehicle’s drivetrain and battery has remained factory standard, demonstrating just how capable and versatile the production Ariya is. We’ve modified the suspension and widened the wheel arches so we can benefit from the stable platform and support of the 39-inch BF Goodrich tires. I’m incredibly excited to get behind the wheel of what was already a brilliant vehicle, but now feels equipped to take on the ends of the earth in style!”

Tougher than Anticipated

After completing Pole to Pole, Chris had this to say: “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.”

Sharing the Excitement of Electric Driving

Julie weighed in with her thoughts as well. “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.”

Point of Pride for Nissan

Allyson Witherspoon, Corporate vice president, Nissan Global Marketing, Brand and Merchandising, said, “On behalf of everyone at Nissan, congratulations on completing Pole to Pole. 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. It has shown how Nissan’s innovative technology continues to deliver excitement, whether on a trip to the office or to the Antarctic!”