While there’s no denying the growing appeal of electric vehicles, the stark reality remains that many regions are plagued by inadequate charging infrastructure, posing a major hurdle for owners. Enter Stella Terra, the world’s first solar-powered off-road EV that could be the game-changer that addresses this challenge.
A road-legal prototype of the Stella Terra recently completed an impressive 621-mile (1,000 km) journey across the challenging terrain of North Africa without recharging solely, relying instead solely on the power of the sun.
Developed by students at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, it showcases the potential of smaller and more lightweight batteries, combined with solar technology, in extending the range and capabilities of electric vehicles, even in rugged off-road conditions.
According to Wisse Bos, Solar Team Eindhoven’s team manager, the technology featured in Stella Terra, which marries a lightweight structure with incredibly efficient solar panels, positions it a full decade ahead of anything you’ll find on the current market.
“Stella Terra must withstand the harsh conditions of off-roading while remaining efficient and light enough to be powered by the sun,” he told The Guardian. That is why we had to design almost everything for Stella Terra ourselves, from the suspension to the inverters for the solar panels. We are pushing the boundaries of technology.”
Read: Scania’s “Solar-Powered” Semi Could Get Up To 6,214 Miles Of Range From The Sun
And the Stella Terra proved to be a success after driving more than 621 miles (1,000 km) in Africa. Starting on Morocco’s north coast, the team took the SUV over mountains, and all the way to the Sahara desert, where their trip ended. Throughout the journey, the SUV proved to be reliable, with only its steering system breaking along the way (it was fixed with the help of a local shop).
The street legal SUV has a top speed of 90 mph (145 km/h), and thanks to its small battery pack, weighs just 2,645 lbs (1,200 kg), which makes it lighter than a Subaru BRZ. On its trip, the Stella Terra also proved to be more efficient than they thought.
Before the test drive, they expected the EV to be capable of going just 391 miles (630 km). However, on sunny days, it proved to have a range of up to 441 miles (710 km) on the road, and 342 miles (550 km) off the road. Meanwhile, on less sunny days, the vehicle is capable of driving around 416 miles (670 km).
The impressive range and self-sufficiency of the Stella Terra make it ideally suited for remote regions with underdeveloped roads and unreliable energy grids. Bosman also aspires to see the concept serve as an inspiration to automakers all around the world.
“We hope this can be an inspiration to car manufacturers such as Land Rover and BMW to make it a more sustainable industry” he told the British outlet. “The car was actually very comfortable in the off-road conditions as it is very light and does not get stuck.”