• Student
  • 10/12/2025
  • Nederlands

Student team aims for social impact with solar ambulance

Solar Team Eindhoven is set to build an ambulance that runs entirely on solar energy and can power all onboard medical equipment. The vehicle must also withstand harsh conditions so it can be deployed worldwide. The team announced this on Tuesday afternoon.

by
photo Wesley Klop

About eighty attendees, including alumni and the team’s partners, gathered yesterday in the Blauwe Zaal. The team presented its new vehicle concept for the coming year: the Stella Juva, an ambulance that can operate fully on solar power. By combining electricity generation and medical care in a single vehicle, the team aims to provide an alternative for regions where a lack of fuel or electricity limits access to healthcare.

Before the announcement, earlier solar vehicles built by the team appeared on screen. Solar Team Eindhoven (STE) has a long history. Every two years, the team builds a new solar-powered car. With their vehicles, they have won the World Solar Challenge four times. In 2021, the team built a fully solar-powered camper, and in 2023 STE drove more than a thousand kilometers across the Sahara with its first off-road solar car.

United Nations

“This year, with our new vehicle, we want to innovate not only in sustainability and mobility, but also create direct social impact,” project manager Kay Janssen explains. The team therefore consulted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The theme of healthcare accessibility stood out. “In terms of sustainability and mobility, there are two major challenges. Some places are difficult to reach, and you are dependent on fossil fuels or an electricity grid.”

Earlier solar cars by Solar Team Eindhoven. Foto | Bart van Overbeeke

To develop their concept, the team spoke with several international health organizations, such as the Red Cross and Amref Health Africa. “They told us that their ability to provide care is limited by a lack of fuel and infrastructure,” says partnership manager Yarno Basten. “With Stella Juva, you can deliver care under any circumstances, instead of being dependent on certain external conditions.”

Challenge

Building a fully functioning solar-powered ambulance in just a few months is quite a technological challenge. “We constantly have to weigh weight against efficiency,” Basten says. “The heavier the components, the less efficient they are in terms of energy consumption—but the better they can handle harsh conditions, such as rough terrain.”

Madis Talmer, coordinator for the student teams, calls it a strong next step for STE. “This is new territory for the team, and I’m very glad they’re moving in this direction. With their capabilities and technology, they can develop a vehicle tailored specifically to the needs of these health organizations.”

On the road

The team will start building in January. In June, the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) will carry out an inspection, after which the vehicle, if approved, will be allowed on public roads. The team expects to present the ambulance in July 2026.

After that, STE will test the ambulance in real-world settings where access to healthcare is not always guaranteed. The team is considering a country like Kenya. “We want to show what’s possible,” Basten says. “We hope to inspire healthcare providers and the industry by showing what 25 students can achieve in a year.”

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.

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