Major carmakers are striving to make future mobility safer, more comfortable, more affordable, and, more importantly, cleaner for all of us. But college students seem to be competing with the big car brands nowadays, pushing the limits of what is possible in the EV realm.
We've recently seen student-built EVs break world records for vehicular acceleration and longest range on a single charge, and the younger generation of car designers and engineers have even more ambitious goals for the future of the automotive industry.
In an attempt to show how electric drive technology could one day support boundless mobility and almost limitless range, a team of students from the Eindhoven University of Technology has developed a self-sustaining off-road vehicle powered by the energy of the sun. It is called Stella Terra and boasts a robust enough design to be able to navigate both paved roads and difficult terrain.
Designed to be self-sufficient, it has solar panels mounted on the roof to collect solar energy, thus eliminating the need for charging stations and achieving complete independence.
Solar Team Eindhoven is the name of the Dutch student group responsible for the solar car, and this is not the first solar-powered vehicle they've built. Their previous work includes a solar-powered campervan called Stella Vita and several family cars running on solar energy - Stella Vie, Era, and Lux.
Photo: Solar Team Eindhoven
Touted as the first of its kind in the world, the new Stella Terra is road legal and is said to be five to ten years ahead of the current market. "We are pushing the boundaries of technology. With Stella Terra, we want to demonstrate that the transition to a sustainable future offers reasons for optimism and encourages individuals and companies to accelerate the energy transition," Wisse Bos, team manager of Solar Team Eindhoven.
The solar car has an aerodynamic profile that incorporates an expandable solar charging system. According to the student team, it weighs just 2,646 pounds (1,200 kg) and can reach a top speed of 90 mph (145 kph). On a sunny day, it can offer a range of up to 391 miles (630 kilometers). The battery can be completely charged within two to three days if there is enough sunlight.
"Stella Terra must withstand the harsh conditions of off-roading while remaining efficient and light enough to be powered by the sun. That is why we had to design almost everything for Stella Terra ourselves, from the suspension to the inverters for the solar panels," Wisse Bos further explained.
The solar array mounted on the car generates enough power to keep it rolling and even charge mobile devices and power electric cooking appliances. Granted, the Terra isn't a full-fledged camper like the team's previous Vita design, but it does offer minimum comfort on the road as the back seat can be converted into a bed. Moreover, according to the team, the solar car can travel 310 miles (500 kilometers) at night without stops.
Designed to run solely on solar power, Stella Terra could be the dream electric car eco-conscious off-road enthusiasts are hoping to get one day. It could allow adventurers to travel to remote off-road locations without experiencing range anxiety, as the good old sun would keep the car's wheels rolling anywhere in the world.
Solar Team Eindhoven has already tested the Stella Terra off-road solar car in the Netherlands, but they plan to keep testing it in more diverse landscapes, so they are departing to Morocco this month, where the vehicle will travel over a thousand kilometers through a wide variety of terrains, including the Sahara desert.
After spending a few years as a copy editor, Ancuta decided to put down the eraser and pick up the writer's pencil. Her favorites subjects are unusual car designs, travel trailers and everything related to the great outdoors. Full profile
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