Today March 31, 2023, in the vast ice-bound Arctic Ocean, electric vehicle adventurers Chris and Julie Ramsey officially began their Pole-to-Pole expedition.
Following a thorough safety assessment, the team set off from the North Magnetic Pole. The journey ahead will see them drive south over 27,000km across North, Central and South America, with the ultimate goal of reaching the most remote place in the world, the South Pole of Antarctica, in December.
No vehicle has ever completed the journey between these two ends of the world and the team Field is Field is taking on the challenge in a 100% electric vehicle. Chris and Julie have embarked on the journey to show just how capable and exciting electric vehicles are, in the hope of accelerating their adoption as positive action once morest the climate crisis.
“Julie and I have gone on several EV adventures over the past 10 years, but Pole to Pole is definitely our biggest and most exciting challenge yet.”
Chris Ramsey.
The expedition-ready Nissan Ariya was slightly modified to help it tackle extreme terrain that the team must pass through on its route. Most notably, the suspension has been raised and the wheel arches widened to accommodate massive 39-inch tires that will help the car “float” in deep snow and sea ice. No modifications were made to the Nissan Ariya’s battery and powertrain, which remain standard, or to the e-4ORCE system, Nissan’s advanced four-wheel electric control technology.
As the couple travels through the remote polar regions, they will tow an innovative renewable energy unit, including an extendable wind turbine and collapsible solar panels. The prototype will take advantage of strong winds and long daylight hours, harnessing natural energy to charge the Nissan Ariya’s battery. The team hopes that the charging innovation can have a positive legacy by inspiring a transition to electric vehicles for future polar expeditions.
four years of planning
“After four years of planning and hard work, we are very excited to officially launch Pole to Pole,” commented Chris.
“Julie and I have done several EV adventures in the last 10 years, but Pole to Pole is definitely our biggest and most exciting challenge. We had to think outside the box, be innovative, and collaborate with like-minded partners to make this expedition a reality. Our Nissan Ariya is fun to drive and performed well during the 5,000 kilometer journey to get to this starting point. It gives us the confidence that we can tackle all the driving scenarios we will face in the coming months.”
Julie added: “We are excited to share our adventure with you and shine a light on the amazing people, communities and projects along the way that are making a positive difference in the climate crisis. We would love for everyone to be a part of Pole to Pole, so please follow us and join in on the adventure on our social media.”
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