Nissan is driving an EV to the North Pole

Think electric vehicles (EVs) are just for the city? Well, Nissan is hoping to change your mind and show off just how capable they are by driving from the North pole to the South Pole.

The company is partnering with British adventurer, Chris Ramsey for this epic 27,000km road trip from the top to the bottom of the world in a specially-prepared Nissan Ariya EV. Set to begin in March 2023, Ramsey and his crew will drive from the magnetic North Pole, through North, Central and South America before shipping the car to Antarctica for the final stretch of the journey.

It won’t be a showroom stock Ariya in order to cope with the -30⁰C temperatures near the poles, with Nissan fitting upgraded wheels, tyres and suspension in order to complete the arduous journey. However, a standard Ariya will follow Ramsey for much of the journey, acting as a support vehicle through the Americas.

As EVs become more mainstream with greater driving range and more variety of models, Ramsey hopes his trip will showcase the technology to a new range of people that don’t believe EVs are capable of conquering such long trips and demanding conditions.

“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,” Ramsey said.

Nissan is happy to see its new flagship EV, the Ariya – which is scheduled to go on sale in Australia in 2023 – being used for such a high-profile endovour.

“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.”