Range anxiety is largely a thing of the past, but it’s still something to think about if you’re going on a long trip. However, few people will travel nearly as far as Chris and Julie Ramsey.
The husband and wife recently completed a ten-month adventure, which saw them start at the Magnetic North Pole and go all the way to the South Pole. The duo travelled more than 18,641 miles (30,000 km) in a Nissan Ariya and the automaker noted “this is the first time any car, let alone an EV, has completed such a journey.”
This wasn’t exactly a walk in the park as the Ramseys began planning the trip in 2017, after they traveled 6,214 miles (10,000 km) in a Nissan Leaf for the Mongol Rally. Besides a lot of careful planning, the Ariya was modified to cope with extreme terrain. As part of this effort, the crossover was outfitted with a rugged suspension and 39-inch BF Goodrich tires, which are covered by huge fender flares.
More: Nissan Unveils Ariya That Will Attempt To Drive Pole-To-Pole
That’s largely the extent of the changes as Nissan noted there were “no modifications to the powertrain or battery.” That being said, the automaker didn’t talk about the hassles of charging the vehicle.
The Ramseys discussed that on Instagram, where they said “As long as the site or building has electricity and a suitable plug socket, then we can plug in,” even if it means plugging into a remote restroom and running a cord out the window. The couple also used solar panels and an extendable wind turbine when away from civilization.
Chris said, “I can’t believe we’re at the South Pole. After so many years of planning, it doesn’t feel real. I’ve always had full confidence in the amazing capabilities of electric vehicles, and I knew our Nissan Ariya would tackle everything thrown at it.” His wife echoed that sentiment by saying it was an “incredible journey.”
