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With Stella Juva, the team extends its vision into the field of sustainable healthcare.
AIKO has announced a new collaboration with Solar Team Eindhoven, bringing its high-efficiency ABC (All Back Contact) solar cells to power Stella Juva, the world’s first solar-powered ambulance designed to operate entirely on solar energy while supporting onboard medical equipment.
Developed by students from Eindhoven University of Technology, Stella Juva aims to enable healthcare delivery in remote or infrastructure-limited regions.
Expected to hit the road in July 2026, the project represents a significant step in redefining the role of solar-powered mobility, from transport solutions to mobile energy systems supporting essential services.
The Stella Juva project focuses on integrating advanced solar technology directly into a functional emergency vehicle. AIKO’s ABC solar cells are central to this effort, providing the energy required to operate both the vehicle and its onboard medical equipment.
“Stella Juva pushes the boundaries of what solar technology can achieve in real world applications,” said David Komdeur, Photovoltaics Engineer at Solar Team Eindhoven.
“We chose AIKO as our partner because of its industry leading efficiency and proven reliability, both critical for a vehicle that must operate independently under varying conditions,” he continued.
Komdeur further shed light on how the ABC cells are designed.
The ABC cells use a full back contact design without front side metallization, which maximizes light absorption. In addition, the silver free metallization lowers the risk of microcracks and contributes to long term durability,” he said.
“A low temperature coefficient, combined with strong resistance to degradation, helps maintain stable performance across a wide range of environments,” Komdeur continued.
The project highlights how solar energy can be used not only for transportation but also as a mobile power source capable of supporting essential services such as medical equipment in areas where infrastructure may be limited or unavailable.
Solar Team Eindhoven brings a strong track record of innovation to the project. The team has won the World Solar Challenge Cruiser Class four consecutive times and has consistently introduced breakthrough concepts in solar mobility.
Previous milestones include Stella Vita, a solar-powered camper designed for long-distance travel, and Stella Terra, the world’s first off-road solar vehicle capable of operating in extreme environments. With Stella Juva, the team extends its vision into the field of sustainable healthcare.
The project reflects the team’s ongoing focus on expanding the applications of solar-powered vehicles beyond experimental prototypes toward practical and functional use cases.
The partnership marks a further expansion of AIKO’s engagement with leading solar mobility teams, moving beyond competition platforms toward real-world applications of zero-carbon mobility and sustainable living.
By integrating ABC technology into a functional emergency vehicle, the collaboration demonstrates how advanced photovoltaic innovation can contribute to both clean transportation and critical societal needs.
For AIKO, this reflects a broader commitment to enabling high-efficiency solar technology in emerging application scenarios, supporting projects that integrate energy generation directly into mobility and infrastructure, and exploring how photovoltaic innovation can deliver value beyond traditional installations.
Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications. He has written in the sports and technology domains respectively. In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches. His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives.
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