Renault: Live more beautifully in an electric car 🎥
SOLAR OPERATED HOUSE The Solar Team, a student collective from Eindhoven University of Technology, wants to use solar energy for electric mobility suitable for everyday use. Stella Vita is intended to prove that this is possible.
Thanks to its aerodynamic design, the 1700-kilogram residential car can travel at up to 120 km/h.
The Stella Vita fully electric experimental vehicle fitted with photovoltaic panels is a house on wheels. It was developed by 22 students from Eindhoven University of Technology and is now to be made ready for series production together with the Renault company Mobilize. To this end, the students met with Mobilize representatives at the Renault Technocentre.
Successful test drive around 3000 kilometers
The futuristic vehicle demonstrated the potential of solar energy to power electric vehicles by traveling some 3,000 kilometers from Eindhoven to Tarifa in Spain. Stella Vita's solar panels cover up to 17.5 square meters when the wings are spread out.
Thanks to its aerodynamic design, the 1700-kilogram caravan can travel at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. When the 60-kWh battery is fully charged, the range is around 600 kilometers, and even up to 730 kilometers in sunshine.
However, fully charging the battery at standstill via the solar cells takes two to three days. Therefore, the vehicle is also equipped with connections for faster charging at common charging stations.
Inside space as in a compact motorhome
To create more space inside, the mobile roof can be raised. Wings then extend at the sides, doubling the area of the solar cells.
The interior is comparable to a compact camper van and features a kitchen, bed, sofa, and shower and toilet - all powered by solar energy. An infotainment system allows users to keep an eye on energy consumption at all times.
