Nissan has officially started an expedition it called Pole to Pole, during which an all-electric Ariya SUV and its crew will cover more than 27,000 kilometers (16,777 miles) and learn to obtain electricity where there is no civilization in sight.
Chris and Julie Ramsey will take advantage of what the company calls ‘an innovative device for energy replenishment’ to restore the charge in the most remote regions of the world. The device is rather bulky – too much so to keep it in the cabin, in fact – so the couple will have to tow it on a trailer throughout the entire expedition. It consists of a collapsible wind turbine and unfolding solar panels and can help top up the battery pack in regions with strong winds and plenty of sunlight – like the Arctic. The couple will take a break from driving and enjoy the scenery while the charger is running.
According to Chris Ramsey, they have already traveled around 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) to arrive at the starting spot of their journey. He added that the driving was smooth and inspired confidence in the rest of the adventure, which is expected to span a few months.
As for the Nissan Ariya EV used, it is nearly stock except for some chassis modifications. Arctic Trucks has worked on it to improve the ground clearance and flare the fenders to accommodate larger 39-inch tires.