Solar-powered mobile clinic completes successful testing in Kenya

A team of 23 students from Solar Team Eindhoven has successfully completed field tests in Kenya for ‘Stella Juva’, a solar-powered ambulance designed to function as a mobile clinic. Developed over the course of a year, the vehicle aims to provide essential medical services to remote regions where electricity and fuel are scarce.

The vehicle is equipped with roof-mounted solar panels that power both the engine and onboard medical equipment, including X-ray machines, ultrasound scanners, tuberculosis testing kits, and vaccine refrigeration. During testing, the team drove over 800 kilometers to evaluate off-road capabilities. The developers noted that the solar panels generate more energy than the medical tools consume, allowing the unit to operate autonomously even at night or during cloudy weather.

In partnership with the NGO Amref Health Africa, the project focuses on improving maternal and child health. The ambulance can reach speeds of 120 km/h and has a potential range of approximately 715 kilometers on a sunny day. The team estimates the mobile clinic could assist roughly 200 people every two days.