Solar Team Eindhoven, a multidisciplinary student team at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, has developed a solar-powered ambulance. Called Stella Juva, the team says it is the world’s first solar-powered ambulance.
“Stella Juva generates energy through the solar panels on its roof and uses this energy both to drive and to power medical equipment,” the team said. “On a sunny day, the solar ambulance is expected to be able to drive 715 km. This means medical care delivery is not dependent on charging infrastructure.”
According to the team, the vehicle has a driving range of up to 715 km on paved roads and an average off-road range of 360 km, depending on terrain. It is powered by a 50 kWh battery and 542 solar cells, including 326 integrated into the roof and 216 mounted on extendable solar panels. The vehicle measures 5 m by 1.9 m, weighs 1,350 kg, and has a top speed of 120 km/h. It uses a self-developed solar inverter with a reported efficiency of 97%.
Unlike a conventional ambulance, which transports patients to a hospital, Stella Juva is designed to bring healthcare services to remote communities. Equipped with integrated power outlets, it can operate medical equipment including a vaccine and medicine cooler, a portable X-ray machine, an ultrasound device, a blood pressure monitor, a thermometer, an automated external defibrillator (AED), and other first-aid supplies.
The student team plans to travel to Kenya in August to simulate healthcare delivery scenarios using the vehicle.
“Together with healthcare organizations, we’re developing a vehicle that fits real-world practice. We hope to improve healthcare access and make it more sustainable,” said Yarno Basten, partnerships manager at Solar Team Eindhoven. “We want to inspire healthcare providers, companies, and other organizations to create social impact through technology.”
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