Next year, Nissan and British adventurer Chris Ramsey plan to do what seems practically impossible: drive from the North Pole to the South Pole in an all-electric vehicle. How? It’s not quite clear.
Nissan announced earlier this year that in 2023 it will be sending British adventurer Chris Ramsey from the North Pole to the South Pole in a modified version of its Ariya e-4ORCE all-electric crossover.
Chris Ramsey, founder of Pole to Pole, commented: “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 are exhilarating to drive whilst meeting the daily demands of drivers around the world. It’s fantastic to see such an important and innovative global brand partner with our expedition.”
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In total, the journey will be longer than 16,700 miles. And it’ll be done purely on the power of electrons. More than a nonexistent charging infrastructure to contend with, Ramsey will also have to brave temperatures ranging from -30⁰C to 30⁰C (-22⁰F to 86⁰F).
Those kinds of lows can easily kill a man. What’s more, they’ll wreak absolute hell on the batteries, too. — batteries don’t like cold, especially lithium-ion batteries. But don’t worry, Nissan assures us that Ramsey will be supported by an unmodified Ariya e-4ORCE as he travels through the Americas. Though I am not sure how that’s supposed to assuage our concerns.
“We’re proud to announce our partnership with Chris Ramsey and the Pole to Pole expedition team,” said Nissan Executive Vice President Asako Hoshino, global head of marketing and sales. “The all-new, all-electric Ariya crossover SUV enables you to go further, easier and in comfort. And with e-4ORCE control technology providing enhanced stability and traction on a variety of surfaces, we know it will be the perfect partner for Chris and his team on their challenging all-electric journey.”
Ramsey is no newbie when it comes to pure-electric driving, though. He’s been adventuring in electric vehicles for over a decade. In 2017, he and wife, Julie, became the first team to complete the Mongol Rally in an all-electric vehicle. The pair traveled over 16,000 kilometers through multiple locales over 56 days in his own Nissan LEAF.
If you’d like to keep track of Ramsey’s travels, you can do so starting March, 2023.
