Stella Terra, the world’s first solar-powered off-road vehicle, completed its test journey across Morocco and the Sahara Desert in early October.
Stella Terra features two seats and was designed by students at Eindhoven University of Technology, as reported by Guardian on October 17. To complete the journey, the vehicle navigated a series of challenging terrains as a final test of its lightweight frame and aerodynamic design. The vehicle runs on energy supplied by a solar panel system on its roof, achieving a maximum speed of 145 km/h. Weighing only 1,200 kg, it has a range of approximately 710 km on sunny days.
Stella Terra, the world’s first solar-powered off-road vehicle, can travel 710 km on sunny days. (Photo: Bart van Overbeeke Fotografie/STE).
According to Wisse Bos, the manager of the Solar Team Eindhoven, the technology used, including the lightweight frame and high-efficiency solar panels, is more advanced than any other vehicle on the market. “Stella Terra had to withstand harsh terrain conditions while maintaining efficiency and a lightweight structure to run on solar power. That’s why we had to design nearly everything for Stella Terra ourselves, from the suspension system to the inverter for the solar panels,” Bos stated.
The vehicle is equipped with a lithium-ion battery, allowing it to operate in areas with limited sunlight over shorter distances. The energy from the solar panel system on the car can provide enough electricity for cooking and charging devices such as phones or cameras. The vehicle’s inverter achieves a 97% efficiency in converting sunlight absorbed by the solar panels into electrical energy. Stella Terra operates approximately 30% more efficiently than initially projected.
“We hope this can inspire automakers like Land Rover and BMW to make the industry more sustainable. The vehicle is truly comfortable when traversing terrain because it is very lightweight and doesn’t get stuck,” said Bob van Ginkel, the project’s technical manager.
According to Britt van Hulst, the project’s financial manager, there is still much work to be done before Stella Terra hits the market. The biggest challenge for solar vehicle manufacturers is the limited surface area available for installing solar panels. High-performance batteries capable of generating enough energy for long-distance travel come with a significant production cost.
