Because of the pandemic, the camping car has once again won the hearts of Europeans, because it’s the perfect way to travel autonomously.
Students at the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands decided to prove that a camper can also be environmentally responsible. They developed the Stella Vita, a solar-powered van with a range of up to 730 kilometers. Its roof-mounted panels can extend up to 17.5 square meters.
Lotte van Dasler, a student at the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven who is part of the Solar Team explained: “We don’t call our invention a camper van, it’s a self-sufficient caravan for us, it provides its own energy. Can a normal camping car do that? We’ve developed something new, it’s a new concept, a new idea for a responsible future on our planet.”
The energy generated is not only enough for driving: it can also be used to take a shower, watch TV, charge gadgets and make coffee. The 60 kW⋅h lithium-ion battery pack can store energy for overnight trips of up to 600 kilometers at a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour.
The developers are currently testing the electric camping car on a route from its native Eindhoven to Tarifa in southern Spain.
