During the tests, the vehicle covered more than 800 kilometres. According to Solar Team Eindhoven, there were no major technical issues. Only a broken steering rod had to be replaced, which the team reportedly fixed within half an hour. However, independently verified data on reliability or energy consumption during the trips is not available. Testing took place at various locations across Kenya’s Narok region in which the electric vehicle had to navigate both paved and unpaved roads. For example, the team reported that the journey to a remote deployment site in Mosiro took six hours.
Stella Juva was developed by 23 students from TU Eindhoven specifically for regions lacking reliable electricity supply or widespread fuel and charging infrastructure. The vehicle is not designed as a traditional ambulance for patient transport. Instead, it is intended to bring medical personnel and equipment directly to remote communities. To this end, Stella Juva is equipped with an X-ray and ultrasound machine, an automated external defibrillator (AED), and cooling technology for vaccines. The energy is provided by solar panels on the roof and additional panels that can be extended laterally when the vehicle is stationary. The solar power supplies both the electric drivetrain and the medical equipment.
