• AutoTL;DRB
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    111 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Bosman noted that the vehicle had proved to be one-third more efficient than expected on the trip, and that its lightweight design made it less liable to get stuck on rugged terrain, and put less stress on its suspension.

    The aerodynamic design also reduces drag and uses “lightweight and robust” composite materials to cut weight, says Bob van Ginkel, technical manager for Stella Terra.

    To answer that question, Stella Terra builds on the idea of the solar-powered campervan produced previously at the university, and the designers made elements of the SUV livable for long-distance, multi-day journeys: for example, the car’s seats fully recline to create a bed.

    Heading south through Fes, the team tested the car on the mountain trails of Midelt — one of Morocco’s highest towns — and ended their trip in the Sahara Desert, challenging Stella Terra on looser, sandy tracks.

    The trip was unaffected by the massive earthquake that hit Morocco in early September, but because of the huge impact the disaster had on the country, the Stella Terra team decided to join forces with The Red Cross on a crowdfunding campaign to help those affected.

    TUE’s automotive innovation lab has been experimenting with solar-powered vehicles for over a decade, producing concept cars that are typically “five to 10 years ahead of the market,” says Bosman.


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