A group of Dutch university students have completely redesigned the RV with solar power and an aerodynamic shape.
As detailed recently on “Full Charged Show”, the Stella Vita is an electric RV with foldable solar panels designed by Solar Team Eindhoven, a group of engineering students at the University of Eindhoven Technology.
In 2021, the team made a 1,864-mile trip across Europe, from Eindhoven to Tarifa, Spain. The RV only needs two charging stops on the way. A top speed of 74.5 mph means the Stella Vita can at least keep up with traffic.
The RV electric Stela Vita on the Show is fully charged
The Stella Vita has a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is charged from rooftop solar panels. They can produce 2 kW when folded or 4 kW when unfolded, according to Solar Team Eindhoven. Normal range is estimated to be 372 miles, but could extend to 453 miles on a sunny day, the team claims.
With solar panels and a folded pop-up roof, the Stella Vita measures 23.6 feet long, 6.7 feet wide and 6.0 feet tall. It has an aluminum frame and fiberglass body with an aluminum/foam core, which helps keep the weight down to 3,747 pounds.
The Stella Vita is a proof of concept, but at least one solar-powered car project in the past has turned into a vehicle with production ambitions.
The Lightyear One The solar vehicle also started with student team members and has become a real product, assembled by Valmet of Finland. It aims to “take a shortcut to the grid” with solar energy to reduce the need for charging. That’s also the place Sono Sion Additional solar EVs will be built.
Both are cars; a production RV like the Stella Vita may face additional hurdles. As we just highlighted — backed up by recent poll results—RV voltage faces some serious hurdles based on charging range and expectations.
That is if the electric RVs comply current, conservative form factors. What will help bridge the gap between the traditional RV and the more imaginative Stella Vita? Maybe electricity? Volkswagen ID camper van?
