Unlike conventional ambulances, Stella Juva is not intended to transport patients to hospital. Instead, it delivers medical care directly at the point of need. Solar panels integrated into the roof supply energy for both the electric drivetrain and onboard medical equipment, including mobile X-ray systems, ultrasound devices and vaccine refrigeration. Under sunny conditions, the vehicle can achieve an all-electric range of up to 715 kilometres on paved roads, allowing it to operate independently of conventional charging infrastructure.
The project is led by the internationally recognised Solar Team Eindhoven, whose students have been developing solar-powered vehicles for more than a decade, including an off-road solar vehicle. Stella Juva was created in close collaboration with organisations including Amref Health Africa to ensure the concept meets real-world operational requirements while applying technological innovation to humanitarian healthcare.
“We were inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which strive to make good healthcare accessible to everyone,” explained team manager Mathijs van Gerven. Yarno Basten, partnerships manager of the student team, added: “If twenty-three students can achieve this in a single year, it shows what’s possible when the technological industry and social organisations work together.”
