Nissan Ariya EV set on a 27,000-km adventure between poles

A year ago, we reported that a British adventurer by the name of Chris Ramsey was planning to take the fully electric Nissan Ariya on a 27,000 km-long expedition from the magnetic North Pole down to the South Pole. 

The Nissan Ariya Pole to Pole Expedition prototype vehicle

Back then, Ramsey and his Pole to Pole expedition team merely had the base Ariya crossover, but fast forward to February 2023 though, and the team now has a functional prototype.  

Designed and built together with famed polar expedition specialist Arctic Trucks, the Pole to Pole Ariya electric vehicle (EV) looks identical to the Arctic Ariya concept sketches that were shown before.  

The most drastic change that was made to the vehicle was giving it additional ground clearance via a new suspension system. The added ride height combined with widened wheel arches also enables it to use a set of massive 39-inch BF Goodrich tires, which are needed for the stability and traction they can provide.  

Huge wheels, for a huge adventure

Coupled with the Nissan Ariya’s stock e-4ORCE electric all-wheel-control technology, the team’s Ariya will be able to tackle a variety of terrain. These range from the ice fields and deep snow of the northern leg of the journey to tackling desert dunes, as well as climbing mountains. 

The stock electric motor and the battery for the Pole to Pole Ariya were kept in their stock forms. Specifically, it can still produce up to 389 horsepower and 600 Nm of torque just like the Ariya B9 4ORCE AWD variant.  It also has a stock range of 610 km while fast charging offers up to 375 km in just 30 minutes.

Speaking of charging, the Pole to Pole Ariya EV prototype includes a lightweight turbine and solar panels. These will be used to charge the Ariya’s batteries whenever the team stops to rest.  

There's no need to get out to launch the drone with this setup

Other additions to the Pole to Pole Ariya EV include a specially integrated espresso machine. Ramsay after all, is a coffee lover, and who wouldn’t want a pick-me-up especially when going through a journey this lengthy?

Also aiding the team in capturing the picturesque sights that they will see along the way is a drone. This drone is then directly charged using the Ariya’s batteries, and it can be deployed remotely from the vehicle’s roof. 

Note that Ramsey’s Pole to Pole Expedition will commence on March 2023. Currently, they are making final preparations for the epic, world-first global crossing using an EV.  

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