Nine-month travel odyssey in an electric car comes to a successful end as Scottish couple arrive in Antarctica
A couple from Scotland are the first people to travel between the two poles in an electric car powered and charged by renewables throughout its trek across the Americas.
Chris and Julie Ramsey set off in March from the 1823 Magnetic North Pole location in Canada and have since driven an estimated 33,000 kms (21,000 mi) across 14 Countries to reach Antarctica.Travelling in their Nissan Ariya electric car they arrived at the South Pole on December 15.
The couple, from Aberdeen in Scotland, have spent several years preparing for the Pole to Pole expedition, which they hoped would help raise awareness about climate change.
This high-profile, challenging and exhilarating adventure supports Nissan Ambition 2030, the company’s long-term vision to empower mobility and beyond with electrification as a central focus. The vision aims to deliver exciting vehicles and technologies that empower customer journeys and society.
In a post on social media they said: “We made it! After a tough and testing final leg of the expedition in Antarctica, we have finally finished.”
In preparation for the freezing Arctic and Antarctic conditions, Ramsey’s expedition Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE was modified with a custom rugged exterior fit for the trek across extreme terrain with upgraded wheels, tires and suspension. A second, unmodified Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE acted as a support vehicle throughout the Americas.
This isn’t the first all-electric expedition for Chris Ramsey. 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 travelled over 16,000 kilometers through multiple locales over 56 days in his own Nissan LEAF.
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.”
