Nissan, the Japanese automaker based in Yokohama, recently announced a partnership with adventurer and Pole to Pole founder Chris Ramsey to drive a customized Ariya from the North Pole to the South Pole.
Ramsey and his team will drive the Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE to complete the journey of over 27,000 kilometers. If successful, it will be the first vehicle to complete the journey.
The Ariya will feature Nissan’s e-4ORCE technology, which employs four-wheel control in the vehicle. In collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), e-4ORCE technology was initially showcased in a lunar vehicle design. Nissan described the technology as follows:
“e-4ORCE is Nissan’s most advanced four-wheel-control technology that precisely manages power output and braking performance to achieve smoothness and stability. The system enhances driver confidence in tracing the intended driving line on nearly any road surface, including wet and snowy roads, without the need for changes in driving style or input.”
In a press release, Nissan Motor Corporation shared the news of the partnership with Chris Ramsey, providing renderings of the customized Ariya e-4ORCE that he and his team will drive, along with details of the route.
Ramsey previously drove his own Nissan LEAF over 10,000 miles from the UK to Siberia in the Mongol Rally, earning a Guinness World Record as the first person to complete the journey in an electric vehicle.
Commenting on the partnership, Ramsey stated, “Our mission is to demonstrate that electric vehicles can handle the toughest environments, from the intense cold of the poles to the warm and humid jungles of South America, and illustrate that they are exciting to drive while meeting the daily demands of drivers worldwide. It’s fantastic to see such a major and innovative global brand partner with our expedition.”
As Ramsey notes, he and his team will encounter some of the world’s most extreme yet beautiful environments, including snow-covered glacial landscapes with temperatures as low as -30°C (-22°F), mountainous terrain, humid and dense jungles, and desert dunes.
Anticipating the harsh conditions of the Arctic and Antarctica, the pole-to-pole journey will be undertaken by a modified Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE featuring a custom-reinforced exterior to handle extreme terrains, as well as enhanced wheels, tires, and accessories. A second unmodified Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE will also appear as a support vehicle during the Americas leg of the tour.
Ramsey and Nissan’s pole-to-pole expedition is scheduled to begin in March 2023. If successful, Nissan notes that Ramsey will be the first to drive “pole to pole” not only in an EV but in any type of vehicle.
