Stella Juva is a solar-powered ambulance developed by students at Eindhoven University of Technology to bring diagnostics and refrigerated supplies to off-grid communities. Equipped to carry ultrasound, portable X-ray, a defibrillator and cold storage, the vehicle must balance energy use between propulsion and medical devices. The prototype—tested on rough Kenyan roads including Narok County—can travel up to 715 km per charge and reach 120 km/h while developers and local health partners assess real-world usefulness.
Stella Juva: Kenya Trials Solar-Powered Ambulance to Deliver Diagnostics Off-Grid
Kenya tests solar-powered ambulance for remote communities
Students at Eindhoven University of Technology have developed Stella Juva, a solar-powered emergency vehicle designed to bring diagnostics and refrigerated medical supplies to communities with unreliable or no grid electricity. The prototype is being tested on Kenyan roads, including dusty, uneven routes in Narok County, to evaluate its performance under real-world conditions.
Medical equipment inside the solar-powered Stella Juva ambulance. - AP Photo and JENS VERVOORT/STE
Unlike a conventional ambulance, Stella Juva is fitted to carry diagnostic equipment such as an ultrasound scanner, a portable X-ray unit, a defibrillator and refrigeration for vaccines and medicines. Solar panels mounted on the vehicle supply energy for both propulsion and on-board medical devices, but finite energy capacity means the team must carefully choose which equipment to carry for each mission.
A demonstration shows how Stella Juva can be used to provide medical care to a patient in a remote community in Kenya. - AP Photo and JENS VERVOORT/STE
Performance and Field Testing
Under favourable conditions the vehicle can travel up to 715 km on a single charge and reach a top speed of 120 km/h. The prototype is undergoing field trials in Kenya to test range, speed and the trade-offs between mobility and on-board medical capability on rough terrain.
Design Driven by Local Needs
The project was shaped through conversations with NGOs and healthcare professionals working in African communities. Yarno Basten, one of the innovators, says the idea came from NGOs reporting that dependence on diesel and unreliable grid power limits their ability to deliver care. Geoffery Sadera, a project officer at Amref Health Africa, says Stella Juva could expand diagnostic reach in off-grid areas and enable earlier detection and referral of complications for mothers and babies.
It will enable us to go and screen mothers and babies, catch complications early and refer them in real time, Geoffery Sadera said.
Why It Matters
The World Health Organization estimates that hundreds of millions of people worldwide use health facilities with little or no reliable electricity. Stella Juva's developers are testing whether a mobile renewable-energy platform can simultaneously improve access to diagnostics and provide dependable power where fixed infrastructure is absent. The project remains at the testing stage as the team refines the balance between range, speed and on-board medical capability.
Help us improve.
