Nissan and the Pole-to-Pole expedition team are gearing up to take on a world first trip by driving a modified version of the fully electric Ariya from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole, a 27,000km journey.
The Japanese carmaker enlisted the help of Artic Trucks, a polar expedition vehicle specialist, to prepare the Ariya for the adventure which will see the electric SUV and its occupants tackle deep snow, ice fields, mountainous terrain, and desert dunes.
Modifications to the vehicle include raised suspension and flared wheel arches in order to fit gargantuan 39-inch off-road tyres underneath.
As for creature comforts, the Ariya has been fitted with a built-in espresso machine which will make husband and wife adventurers Chris and Julie Ramsey feel right at home.
The vehicle’s battery and electric powertrain have been left as is with the model making use of two electric motors front and rear which provide drive to all four wheels – a system that Nissan refers to as e-4orce.
As for recharging the electric SUV in the sparse polar regions, a renewable energy unit has been fitted which includes a lightweight wind turbine and solar panels to keep the battery topped up.
“One of the things that underpins all the adventures we do is that we take a standard production EV and aim to make minimal changes to clearly demonstrate its real, everyday capabilities, regardless of where you are driving it,” says Chris.
“The planning and preparation for Pole to Pole has been such a big part of our lives over the past four years so I am really looking forward to getting the expedition underway in March,” Julie added.
The pole-to-pole EV expedition will kick off this March at the North Pole and continue for ten months until the Nissan Ariya and its adventurers reach the South Pole.
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