While many countries continue the relentless race to create an EV charging network, for more remote regions using electric vehicles remains a pipe dream. However, a team from Eindhoven University of Technology has provided a glimpse of what may be possible with a fully solar electric SUV.

The Stella Terra is billed as the "world's first off-road solar-powered vehicle" and recently completed a 1000km trip across Morocco to prove its capabilities. The development team says that the SUV is capable of 710 km on roads and approximately 550 km off-road on a sunny day. If it does cloud over the range only drops by around 50km as the car does not need direct sun light. The strange looking SUV is light, aerodynamic and covered in solar panels.  

The aim of the project is not to take on pure EV vehicles commercially where there is strong EV infrastructure, but to offer the possibility of electric powered vehicles in remote areas where charging is generally not possible. 

The secret to the vehicle is the use of solar panels that are 97% efficient at converting sunlight into electricity. These are currently very expensive. More standard panels are only around 20% efficient and note suitable for such applications. 

The not for profit team has also produced several road going solar cars and the Stella Vita, a self-sustaining House on Wheels. The intention is to develop and demonstrate the potential of solar applications and encourage vehicle manufacturers to explore the potential of such technology.