The Dutch seem to be at the vanguard of long-distance solar-powered expeditions at the moment. Renske Cox and Maarten van Pel’s circumnavigation of Africa has been cut short due to conflict in Sudan (their 2022 Skoda Enyaq iv80 EV is now on a ship back to Europe). However, they made it down the entire length of the world’s second-largest continent while collecting 54% of their energy from the sun with a homemade solar array. Netherlands-based Solar Team Eindhoven (STE) recently drove 1000 km (621 miles) across the North African nation of Morrocco in their solar-only experimental Stella Terra electric SUV.
STE is calling the Stella Terra “the world’s first off-road solar-powered car,” and the team of engineering students that developed the vehicle claim it has up to 710 km (440 miles) of range on a sunny day. Covered with high-efficiency solar panels, some of which are deployable into a large, awning-like array, the Stella Terra is built of lightweight materials and weighs only 1,000 kgs (2,645 pounds). The team also claims nearly 97% efficiency from its custom-made converter. STE outfitted the EV with a basic camping interior as well.
Wisse Bos, the team manager of Solar Team Eindhoven, said, “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. We are pushing the boundaries of technology.” STE points out that purely solar-powered vehicles that are also off-road capable are especially useful in landscapes where traditional electrical connections may be unreliable or nonexistent and during major emergencies when the power grid may be down. In fact, while Stella Terra was on its Morocco expedition, the country was rocked by a major earthquake. The team continued on despite power outages and organized a relief fund in partnership with the Red Cross to help those affected by the trembler.
Morocco is a fantastic place to put a solar-powered off-roader through its paces, both for the terrain and the copious amounts of sunshine. How the Stella Terra fares in gloomy, cloudy Holland is another matter, and Solar Team Eindhoven didn’t offer too many other technical specs or a price tag for their experimental 4×4. The company claims its technology is usually 10 years ahead of the consumer curve, so the trickle-down may take some time to find its way into your local showroom.
Read more: Landmark Achievement for Fully Electric Hilux in Australia
Images: Solar Team Eindhoven
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