The Solar Team Eindhoven student team from the Eindhoven University of Technology has built an SUV powered entirely by solar energy. The durability of Stella Terra allows the electric vehicle to move both on paved roads and over rough terrain. In October, students will conduct a test in the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

The energy for the engines of the Stella Terra SUV is collected by solar panels installed on the roof. Thanks to solar panels and a robust design, the solar car has a top speed of 145 km/h, weighs just 1,200 kg and has a range of 630 km on a clear day.

In order for the car to move not only on asphalt, but also over rough terrain, it was important for the engineers to ensure the stability of the body and not greatly increase the weight in order to maintain the power reserve. The structure of the housing is completely designed by students - from the suspension to the inverters for solar panels.

The Stella Terra has already been tested on various tracks in the Netherlands, but the variety of terrain is limited. Therefore, in October, students will travel to Morocco, where the solar car will cover almost a thousand kilometers in different conditions.