A Dutch student team Tuesday unveiled what they believe to be the world's first solar-powered ambulance, which they hope can bring much-needed medical care to the remotest parts of the globe.
The sleek, futuristic-looking, white and yellow vehicle boasts solar panels on the roof that power its engine but also medical devices from x-ray machines to defibrillators.
The two-seater ambulance, named Stella Juva, can reach a top speed of 120 kilometres per hour (75 miles per hour) and is designed for inaccessible off-road terrain.
With a range of 715 kilometres on a sunny day, the car has a solar power-charged battery to ensure the vehicle and equipment works at night or when it is cloudy.
"Stella Juva is fully equipped to deliver medical healthcare in hard-to-reach areas," said project leader Mathijs van Gerven, a 21-year-old student of biomedical engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology.
