Solar-powered off-road car finishes 620-mile test drive across north Africa

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Stella Terra, a groundbreaking solar-powered car, recently completed a test drive spanning 620 miles across Morocco and the Sahara
• Touted as the world's first off-road solar car that can traverse long distances without recharging, this innovation emerges from the Eindhoven University of Technology

🔭 The context: Developed by a dedicated team of students, the Stella Terra showcases the fusion of lightweight design and superior aerodynamics
• With a top speed of 90mph and a range of 440 miles in sunny conditions, it represents a significant leap in solar transportation technology

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Solar-powered vehicles like Stella Terra could revolutionize the auto industry by reducing dependency on fossil fuels
• This particular model's energy efficiency is not only remarkable for driving but also for other essential utilities, such as cooking or charging devices

⏭️ What's next: While Stella Terra is a promising prototype, there's more work ahead before it hits the market
• Its success underscores the potential of solar power in vehicular technology, but the challenge lies in optimizing the solar panel efficiency and the limited surface area available on vehicles for these panels

💬 One quote: “Stella Terra must withstand the harsh conditions of off-roading while remaining efficient and light enough to be powered by the sun. That is why we had to design almost everything for Stella Terra ourselves, from the suspension to the inverters for the solar panels. We are pushing the boundaries of technology” (Wisse Bos, Solar Team Eindhoven)

📈 One stat: The converter in Stella Terra achieved an astounding 97% efficiency in transforming sunlight into electrical charge, marking it as a third more efficient than initially anticipated

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