What Is the Stella Vita and Why Is It the Most Innovative Campervan in the World?
Reading Time: 4 minutesIs this the future of long road trips?
There is no stopping the world’s progress toward cleaner ways to travel. In recent history, we’ve seen the evolution of hybrid, fully electric, fuel-cell, and now solar-powered vehicles. Although slow, the transition is happening right before our eyes.
The Stella Vita solar-powered campervan is the latest innovation in the SEV market, with the added functionality of self-sustained living. In terms of what electric vehicles can do, this house on wheels sets the bar really high. Let’s break down why Stella Vita is innovation personified.
What Is the Stella Vita?
The amount of sunlight that hits the Earth on any given hour exceeds what the entire planet uses in a whole year. With that in mind, getting from point A to point B becomes purely a matter of energy capture instead of energy storage when we use the sun’s abundant energy.
In order to have a sustainable future in mobility, vehicles must be the focal point. Utilizing the endless supply of energy from the sun gives you the freedom to travel anywhere you want without worrying about where to charge your vehicle. This is why Solar Electric Vehicles (SEVs), like the Aptera, are so innovative.
A group of 22 students from the Eindhoven University of Technology had this in mind. Their intention was to push the boundaries of solar mobility further than anyone before. The members of Solar Team Eindhoven accomplished this by creating a vehicle that could take full advantage of the sun’s energy and apply it for both travel and off-grid living.
It was this thought process that led to the creation of the Stella Vita. The Stella Vita, Vita, which means ‘live’, is a solar-powered, self-sustaining campervan concept.
Starting from a clean slate and funding from sponsors, the team was able to think outside the box and expand on the ideas that make this vehicle truly one of a kind. Everything from its unique appearance and retractable solar panels on its roof helps the Stella vita be as efficient as possible.
The solar electric vehicle fully embraces its self-sustaining livability identity. It has a fully functional shower, a kitchen with a coffeemaker, and a bed. All are made with lightweight materials to keep the vehicles’ weight down and increase efficiency while on the road.
According to the Solar Team Eindhoven website, its goal is to reduce global CO2 emissions and help achieve energy transition by replacing fossil fuels with sustainable energy sources. By creating an innovative, energy-efficient solar vehicle that delivers reliable performance, it aims to inspire the current market and society to expedite the move toward a sustainable future.
Furthermore, SEVs ensure that additional vehicles don’t add a load on the national electric grid. SEVs avoid the question, ‘is the grid capable of handling more electric vehicles?’ since you don’t have to charge them via an outlet.
Stella Vita Specs and Features
With room enough for two, the Stella Vita has everything you need to live off the grid without compromising comfort. By harnessing energy from the sun, this ‘house on wheels’ can absorb enough power to run all the equipment on board. Long journeys and livability are its sole purposes, and it does these things very well.
In terms of features, Stella Vita is pretty impressive. To add space to the living area, there is a lifting roof. According to its website, the roof is down when driving to minimize drag and is easily lifted when parked.
Stella Vita measures 23.6 feet long and nearly 7 feet wide in folded travel mode. When the SEV is parked and unfolded, it expands to 14.4 feet wide. Due to its cool pop-up roof, the interior height extends from 6 feet folded to 8.3 feet unfolded.
The foldable solar panels used by Stella Vita measure 28.8 feet when retracted and 57.4 feet when fully extended. When the roof panels are fully open, it also increases the outdoor living space. Moreover, it provides much-needed shade from the sun.
There is also a cabin roll cage for added safety. Its layout allows for both indoor and outdoor cooking, and you can easily move furniture from inside the van to its outdoor area to enhance the outdoor living experience. Instead of your usual large wing mirrors, the spacious cabin uses two well-placed side cameras, while the driver’s controls are simple and practical.
The center dash has a removable infotainment touchscreen system providing relevant performance details, including:
- How much solar power you’re getting
- Energy use information
- Driving range
- Driving feedback to aid in energy efficiency
The screen can also be used for watching movies and is linked to a speaker tube that fits in its own compartment. The power consumption is fully customizable, allowing users to direct energy usage wherever needed. The amount of energy available and what to do with it can also easily be adjusted via the infotainment system.
Stella Vita’s Technology
The Stella Vita is packed with technology, and these key design elements add to its quirky yet funky appearance. It all starts with its innovative expandable rooftop solar panels. While parked, the roof is lifted so that extra panels can be slid out for maximum charging.
Its raindrop shape makes for better aerodynamics and is a vital vehicle feature. Despite its hefty appearance, it’s lightweight, making it incredibly energy efficient. This is thanks to its glass fiber aeroshell and aluminum frame. According to its website, all these elements help the Stella Vita generate more energy than it consumes on the road.
Range and Charging
Powered by a 60KWh Lithium-ion battery, it takes two to three days for the Stella Vita to recharge while parked with the roof fully extended. Although its range indicates only 453 miles on a single charge, this SEV campervan can cover over 1,000 miles on 100% solar energy.
The team wanted to show the world what the Stella Vita could do, so they planned a road trip across Europe. It was a rough start because of bad weather, but the group finished strong. The journey started in Eindhoven and ended at the southernmost tip of Spain in Tarifa—a road trip covering 1,860 miles.
Stella Vita: The Future of Long Road Trips
With the Stella Vita campervan, the creators have shown that the concept works. Now that all the groundwork has been laid, they hope a major automotive company will pick up on their innovation and start mass production.
However, unless the transition to EVs and SEVs speeds up significantly, it may be some time before you see more of these unique mobile homes cruising down the road looking for adventure.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/stella-vita-most-innovative-campervan/