Husband and wife adventurers, Chris and Julie Ramsey, have crossed the equator in their world-first expedition driving an EV from the 1823 Magnetic North Pole to the South Pole in Antarctica.
With their expedition-ready Nissan Ariya, the couple has so far travelled more than 20,000 km, traversing the challenging Arctic Sea ice, melting Canadian ice roads, and exploring North and Central America before reaching the equator line in Quito, Ecuador.
Pole to Pole was devised as the ultimate test for an electric car, with the hope of accelerating the adoption of EVs as part of the solution to tackle the climate crisis, whilst also shining a light on the positive action of people, communities and projects along the route.
Reflecting on their Northern Hemisphere adventures, Julie commented: “It’s been an incredible experience so far. Our Expedition Ariya captures the interest of so many people on our route and we’ve been privileged to be hosted and helped by the kindest and most fascinating people, who all embrace the positivity and hope that Pole to Pole represents.”
Sharing his thoughts on the journey ahead from the equator, Chris said: “I set out to really push the limits of EV and show the world just how capable and exciting they are.
“Our expedition Nissan Ariya has performed so well; it hasn’t let us down and it’s created so much interest from people along the way.
Toughest test
“It gives me confidence we can complete this expedition despite the challenging distances, terrains and temperatures we will face in the Southern Hemisphere.
“Antarctica will be our toughest test yet, but we have the experience of our time in the Arctic to learn from and I’m working on innovations that can help us reach the South Pole at the end of December.”
The couple will now face the stunning but punishing landscapes and climates of the Southern Hemisphere on route to the South Pole, which they aim to reach by the end of the year.