On Saturday 29th March, exactly two years after departing from the 1823 Magnetic North Pole, British adventurers and electric vehicle (EV) pioneers Chris and Julie Ramsey of Plug In Adventure have officially been recognised by Guinness World Records for their groundbreaking Pole to Pole EV expedition — setting not one, but two new world records.
Guinness World Records™ has awarded the couple with titles for completing the ‘first expedition by an electric car from the Magnetic North Pole to the South Pole’, and for the ‘longest journey by an electric car in Antarctica’. Remarkably, theirs was the first journey by any vehicle — electric or combustion — to travel from the 1823 Magnetic North Pole to the South Pole.
The sustainability and EV champions undertook this latest expedition to continue their mission to highlight the true capabilities of EVs in challenging environments and the importance of doing what we can to tackle the wider threat of climate change.
The 2023 adventure saw the pair travel over 29,000km through 14 countries across 3 continents facing extreme climatic conditions ranging from -39 to +49 degrees, and treacherous terrains – all of which the couple documented.
The vehicle of choice for the expedition was a Nissan Ariya, modified to tackle the extreme conditions, including 39-inch wheels and a protection plate to protect the battery on the underside of the car. It also provided accommodation for Chris and Julie for the duration of the adventure. The couple used a combination of wind and solar technology in collaboration with a generator to charge in the Polar regions where there was no charging infrastructure.
Throughout North, Central and South America they relied on public EV charging infrastructure, including working with a partner to install a network of EV chargers as part of their expedition legacy. Where there wasn’t EV chargers available, they used a myriad of creative charging solutions helped by businesses and the kindness of strangers to continue their journey.
Chris explains why pole to pole: “We learnt a lot from our participation in the 16,000km Mongol Rally when we completed it in our 90 mile range EV, and we wanted to take it to the next level. Boundaries need to be pushed for real change to happen and to show the public just how capable EV’s really are. In testing the limits of our EV and the infrastructure, I knew that pole to pole would be the most impactful and captivating way to demonstrate this to the world. It is such an honour to be recognised by Guinness World Records.”
Julie added: “It was a remarkable adventure and also the most mentally and emotionally exhausting experience I have ever had in my life. Despite the incredible scenery and excitement of adventure, it was the positive experience engaging with the people that we met, and their overwhelming kindness that are my standout memories. Regardless of where we met them, it is clear that people are worried about the threat of climate change, and it is affecting their lives.”
Guinness World Records commented: “We would like to extend our congratulations to Chris and Julie Ramsey for their incredible record-breaking journey from pole to pole, achieving two records in the process; ‘First expedition by an electric car from the Magnetic North Pole to the South Pole’ and ‘Longest journey by an electric car in Antarctica’.
Our ‘First’ records are unique in recognising a significant achievement in a particular field, which their pole to pole record exemplifies. We’re delighted to be able to award both records and look forward to working with them on future record attempts.”
The couple have now been writing a book about the adventure which they are planning to release later this year. The book will offer readers a front-seat view of the entire expedition. Combining untold behind-the-scenes stories and the encounters with people they met along the way, the book will share lessons in resilience, sustainability, and the human spirit. Details, including the release date and title, will be revealed soon whilst plans for their next EV expedition are already underway.
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