Stella Vita - a solar-powered motorhome that opens the future for sustainable tourism.

This solar-powered motorhome is part of the 2021 Solar Team Eindhoven project by a group of 22 Dutch students. The research team began studying solar-powered transportation for the project last September, and the idea for the Stella Vita was born just two months later. From November 2020 to March 2021, they completed the Stella Vita, a vehicle capable of reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h thanks to its aerodynamic design and a weight of only 1,700 kg.

By July, the project team had begun testing, and very quickly thereafter, the vehicle received roadworthiness certification in September of this year.

The small room inside the motorhome is fully equipped with all the necessary amenities, including a double bed, sofa, cooking area, bathroom, sink, and toilet. It's a suitable space for a trip for two, but what's special is that they can drive, cook breakfast, and watch TV all at the same time, using the vehicle's solar panels.

“Our main goal is to inspire people, the market, and society as a whole to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future,” said Tijin Ter Horst, a member of Solar Team Eindhoven 2021.

On October 19th, Stella Vita began its planned 3,000km journey from Eindhoven (Netherlands) to the Tarifa metropolitan area in southern Spain, with 13 stops including Paris. However, technical problems arose early in the trip, and the motorhome had to be towed. After resolving the issues, Stella Vita continued its journey and was able to travel nearly 2,000km without refueling or charging.

"This car looks incredibly unique; when you drive it through European cities like Paris or other destinations, the locals will be fascinated and want to take pictures of it," Horst said.

Normally, this car can travel 600 km on a full charge of 60 kWh, even at night or on cloudy days. Meanwhile, when driven in sunlight, the car has enough energy to extend its range by another 130 km. To demonstrate this, the research team also tested continuous driving over a 300 km distance at a maximum speed of 120 km/h.

When the vehicle is stopped, the solar panels on the roof will unfold from both sides, doubling the vehicle's solar energy absorption surface area. The area of ​​the solar panels will then increase to 17.5 m².²instead of 8.8 m²As before. When stationary, riders can also monitor energy consumption through the integrated infotainment system.

"It creates an awareness of energy," Horst added, "You can see how much energy comes from the sun, how much energy comes from your body, or if you want to make pancakes, you can also measure exactly how much energy is needed to make one pancake."

According to the research team behind the 2021 project, it was time to make new strides in the field of mobility technology by creating a solar-powered vehicle that people could fully live in. Horst said: “The previous solar-powered cars that the project produced could generate so much energy that they could even power other electric vehicles. This is why we came up with the idea of ​​using the additional energy source to power other functions on the vehicle.”

This is not the first solar-powered car created by Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands; previously, in 2013, the Solar Team Eindhoven research group created the world's first solar-powered family car, and this project has continued ever since.

Khanh Ha