TRANSPORTATION

Stella by STE

“Stella” might not look like what we have in mind when we think about a classical family car.  Well, “she” is a family car but definitely not an ordinary one. The solar team of the Eindhoven University of Technology invented what is the world’s first solar-powered family car, an “energy-positive” vehicle providing accommodation for four people with a fully accessible trunk space.

The fact that the innovative car looks more like a small airplane without wings comes probably from the fact that the roof is mostly flat in order to provide plenty of space for the solar cells generating electricity. On average this is more than the car consumes, so the excess returns to the power grid. Due to its aerodynamic design as well as the use of lightweight materials like carbon and aluminium, it is an extremely fuel-efficient ride with a range of about 600 kilometres.

“Stella” also features a responsive steering wheel that expands or contracts depending on the speed and thereby assisting the driver to regulate the velocity. LED strip applications as well as a touch screen display with superfluous buttons ensure an interactive cockpit experience for the driver.

In October the vehicle will take part in the new cruiser class category of the World Solar Challenge, a biannual 3000-kilometer race through the outback of Australia in order to reflect the growing interest in commercially viable solar car.

Super innovative, environment friendly as well as suitable for daily commuting even with a family – the developers have definitely reached their goal of designing a car providing for "Comfort, ease of use, and feasibility."