Rather than serving primarily as a high-speed emergency vehicle, Stella Juva is conceived as a mobile clinic capable of operating in remote, off-grid regions. Its development required the team to balance the substantial energy demands of vehicle propulsion with those of sensitive medical equipment.
The vehicle's roof is covered with All Back Contact photovoltaic cells supplied by Chinese manufacturer AIKO. By placing the electrical contacts on the rear of the cells, the design removes front-facing grid lines and maximizes the surface available for collecting sunlight. Integrated copper interconnects and silver-free metallization are also intended to improve durability and reduce the risk of degradation or microcracks caused by off-road vibration.
Solar energy is stored in a 50-kWh lithium-based battery pack. The electrical architecture separates the drivetrain from the medical cabin, allowing the system to prioritize remaining battery power for medical equipment if the vehicle can no longer continue driving. Pure sine wave inverters provide stable electricity for sensitive diagnostic devices.
Weight reduction is particularly important for a solar vehicle, but the challenge becomes greater when it has to carry medical hardware. Stella Juva uses an aerospace-grade carbon-fiber-composite chassis and body to keep its total weight at 1,350 kg. Its aerodynamic teardrop-shaped body is designed to reduce drag, while the team estimates a maximum solar-powered driving range of up to 715 km on a sunny day and a top speed of 120 km/h.
Inside, the climate-controlled medical cabin is equipped with an X-ray system for tuberculosis screening, ultrasound equipment for prenatal care, rapid malaria testing facilities and automated external defibrillators. A high-efficiency refrigeration system is also used to maintain suitable conditions for vaccines and medicines.
Stella Juva remains a university research prototype rather than a production vehicle. Its engineering blueprints are open source, with the project intended to demonstrate the feasibility of zero-emission medical transport in areas beyond conventional infrastructure.
The next major test will take place in Kenya, where Solar Team Eindhoven and humanitarian organization Amref Health Africa will evaluate the vehicle across demanding terrain and real-world medical scenarios. The results could provide valuable data for future approaches to delivering healthcare in remote communities.
According to Newatlas
