With their expedition-ready Nissan Ariya, the couple has so far travelled more than 20,000 km, traversing Arctic Sea ice, Canadian meltwater roads and exploring North and Central America before reaching the equator line in Quito, Ecuador.
Pole to Pole is the ultimate electric expedition through the Americas from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole in Antarctica, showcasing the capability and excitement of EVs and shining a light on bold initiatives and fascinating communities harnessing renewable energy.
Reflecting on their Northern Hemisphere adventures, Julie said: “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.
"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.
Adventure: Nissan's DNA
The Pole to Pole team entrusted Nissan, with the company's strong record of innovation, to help them take on this EV expedition and chose the advanced Nissan Ariya as a versatile and highly capable expedition vehicle.
Retaining the production spec vehicle, particularly the standard battery and powertrain, is essential to the credibility of Pole to Pole but some necessary modifications were made in collaboration with polar mobility experts Arctic Trucks. These include raised suspension and 39-inch snow tyres, that were tested in Iceland’s Arctic-like terrain.
FOLLOW: Chris and Julie's Pole to Pole expedition
Chris and Julie recharge the car in the polar regions using innovative portable charging tech. They’ll tow a prototype trailer carrying a lightweight wind turbine and solar panels, making the most of high winds and long daylight hours to charge the car battery.
The expedition Ariya features Nissan’s advanced electric all-wheel-control technology, e-4ORCE, to enable Chris and Julie to feel confident even when tackling the most challenging landscapes, from ice and snow-covered tracks to desert climbs.
As well as the latest tech to keep Chris and Julie comfortable and connected, their custom expedition Ariya has extra features and home comforts to help along the route, including an integrated espresso machine, weather station and a drone to capture their stunning surroundings.