Dutch students test solar-powered ambulance in Kenya

A team of 33 students from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands has successfully tested a fully solar-powered ambulance called "Stella Jovia" in Kenya, according to Medical Xpress. The vehicle generates more energy than it consumes while running medical equipment, eliminating the need for grid power or fuel. Roof-mounted solar panels and side panels that deploy during stops allow the ambulance to operate devices such as X-ray machines, ultrasound equipment, defibrillators and vaccine refrigeration units. Developed in partnership with Amref Health Africa, the vehicle is designed to bring healthcare directly to remote areas rather than transporting patients to hospitals. During field tests in Kenya's Narok region, the ambulance covered more than 800 kilometers across asphalt and rough roads, with only a minor steering-component failure that was repaired in half an hour. Over two days of testing with Amref, the vehicle was used to deliver healthcare to roughly 200 people. Team leader Matthias van Gerven said the ambulance makes a meaningful contribution to sustainable healthcare delivery in energy-scarce regions.