Electric cars are good at many things. For example, being quiet is one of their trump cards, just like not emitting anything directly while driving. However, if your only goal is to cover a huge distance, we might opt for a hefty diesel engine – especially if you also encountered extremely low temperatures in your path. Yet it should be possible, and two British people now want to prove that together with Nissan.
39-inch tires and an espresso machine
Chris and Julie Ramsey want to drive from the North Pole to the South Pole behind the wheel of a Nissan Ariya. Then we are talking about the electric SUV, and the couple has not just built a diesel generator in the back for the occasion. On the contrary: the powertrain of the car was kept completely standard, although it is of course the four-wheel drive e-4ORCE version. Even beyond that, the adjustments are actually limited to a suspension that has been raised to accommodate the gigantic 39-inch tires. Nissan does say it has built an espresso machine into the cabin to provide occupants with a steady supply of caffeine, so we hope to see this device in the option list of the standard Ariya soon.
The so-called Pole to Pole expedition departs from the North Pole and will follow a route of roughly 27,000 kilometers to reach the South Pole. Along the way they will cross quite a few inhospitable areas, from natural snowy landscapes to deserts. To be able to charge the Ariya’s 87 kWh battery there as well, the couple has brought a portable charging module that draws its power from a set of solar panels and a collapsible windmill. The departure is scheduled for March 2023, so we are curious to see how long the two will take the ride.
