Students at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands have developed what they claim is the world’s first solar-powered ambulance. The electric vehicle can travel up to 715 km on paved roads without relying on charging infrastructure while simultaneously powering medical equipment. The project is aimed at providing assistance to residents of remote areas with limited access to hospitals and electricity.
The development was carried out by the interdisciplinary student team Solar Team Eindhoven. The vehicle is named Stella Juva (“Star of Help”) and is designed not simply for patient transport but as a mobile medical station capable of performing diagnostics and providing first aid directly on site.
The vehicle is equipped with a 50-kWh battery and 542 solar cells. Of these, 326 are integrated into the roof, while another 216 are mounted on sliding solar panels that can be deployed while stationary to increase electricity generation.
According to the developers, an off-road range reaches 360 km, maximum speed is 120 km/h, and the onboard solar inverter operates at 97% efficiency.
The solar energy generated is used not only for propulsion but also to power medical equipment. Onboard outlets are provided for connecting a refrigerator for vaccines and medicines, portable X-ray and ultrasound equipment, a defibrillator, a blood pressure monitor, a thermometer, and other devices. This allows medical staff to work even where reliable electricity supply is unavailable.
By August, the team intends to head to Kenya, where, collaborating with medical groups, they will conduct a car test in settings as close to actual operation as possible in isolated communities.
