Solar powered cars have existed for decades mainly in experimental or anecdotal forms. Yet, with recent technological advances, a breakthrough moment could be on the horizon. A solar panel equipped all terrain car, fully electric, has demonstrated long distance capability by completing a 1000 kilometer journey across Morocco and the Sahara while relying solely on panels mounted on its body.
The Stella Terra, a compact two seater created by students at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, recently completed this challenging route. It navigated diverse landscapes and varied road networks to test the practical performance of solar assisted mobility. The result is a clear signal that this approach is maturing enough to explore new horizons in sustainable transport.
Top speed reaches 145 kilometers per hour. The vehicle weighs around 1,200 kilograms and offers a minimum range of 710 kilometers on a sunny day.
The Solar Team Eindhoven, the group behind this project, notes that the technology used to assemble high efficiency solar panels is a decade ahead of similar products currently on the market.
Stella Terra is designed to combine off road capability with efficiency and light weight to operate on solar power. Consequently, the team crafted nearly every component from scratch, from the suspension system to the inverters for the solar cells.
The vehicle relies on a rechargeable lithium ion battery, enabling operation in less sunny climates for shorter trips. The energy produced by the solar panels is powerful enough to run the car and even power ancillary devices via plug in connections if needed.
During testing, the vehicle operated in the dry, rugged terrain of North Africa from Tangier to the Sahara. The evaluation period lasted about ten days and featured only one steering fault, which was resolved quickly.
The designers hope this achievement inspires major manufacturers to pursue a more sustainable path. The vehicle was reportedly comfortable off road due to its light weight and ability to avoid getting stuck.
The efficiency of the solar to electrical conversion system was cited at 97 percent, a result that pushed Stella Terra to perform about a third better than initial expectations.
Britt van Hulst, 21, the project s financial director, told a major British newspaper that while work remains before bringing a final design to market, the project offers a valuable blueprint for large scale producers to consider.
High Economic Cost
A major challenge for solar powered cars is the limited surface area available for panels.
Yet the bigger barrier is cost. Panels that could deliver energy for long trips remain expensive. Current high end panels achieve around 45 percent efficiency, while many conventional panels range from 15 to 20 percent.
In fact the price pressure has influenced market dynamics, as shown by the case of Atlas Technologies, a Netherlands based subsidiary, which faced failures when attempting to break into the automotive sector. Previous reports noted a planned price tag of around 500,000 euros per vehicle, and the company later reemerged with a model expected to cost about 40,000 dollars per car with a range exceeding 600 kilometers per charge.
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