Trending 
Dutch students celebrated a successful trial in Kenya for ‘Stella Juva,’ a vehicle they describe as the world’s first solar-powered ambulance designed to bring vital medical care to remote communities.
Built by a team of 23 students who spent a year working on the project, the futuristic car features roof-mounted solar panels alongside equipment like vaccine coolers, TB test kits, portable X-ray devices, and ultrasound scanners.
Rather than transporting patients to distant hospitals, the vehicle serves as a mobile clinic, delivering healthcare directly to vulnerable populations.
The high-tech ambulance handles off-road terrain, reaches speeds up to 120 km/h, and boasts a driving range of roughly 715 kilometres on a sunny day.
Its solar-charged battery system keeps both the engine and onboard medical tools fully functional at night or during overcast weather.
Project partner Geoffrey Sadera of Amref Health Africa praised the innovation, stating, “This vehicle will be a game changer” for maternal and child health.
During the Kenyan field test, the team drove the ambulance over 800 kilometres to rigorously evaluate its off-road capabilities and healthcare delivery systems.
Student team member Isabella Wanningen called the trial a complete success, adding, “We hope to inspire the industry, healthcare organisations and innovators to use sustainable technology to solve real-world problems. If we can do this with 23 students in one year, that really shows how much is possible.”
