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The future of the school run? Four seater family car powered by the sun

Stella Lux can travel 621 miles on a full charge
App can even determine sunniest route to recharge roof panels

Published: 16:07 EST, 6 July 2015 | Updated: 04:46 EST, 7 July 2015

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It would certainly be the most unique car on the school run.

Dutch researchers have unveiled the Stella Lux, a four seater solar powered car aimed at families.

It can travel 621 miles on a full charge, and even comes with an app to automatically work out the most efficient routes.

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The Dutch car can travel 621 miles on a full charge, and even comes with an app to automatically work out the most efficient routes, taking into account the weather and traffic.

Stella Lux generates electricity via 5.8 sq m (62.4 sq ft) of solar cells and has an additional battery capacity of 15 kWh.

SOLAR RUNAROUND

Stella Lux generates electricity via 5.8 sq m (62.4 sq ft) of solar cells and has an additional battery capacity of 15 kWh.

A full charge provides a range of over 1,000 km (621 mi) in the Dutch climate or 1,100 km (684 mi) in the Australian climate, and the car has a top speed of 125 km/h (78 mph).

Dutch students have developed a new family car that is not only powered by the sun, but generates more energy than it uses, and will compete in the World Solar Challenge in Australia later this year.

Stella Lux was developed by Solar Team Eindhoven (STE), a group of 21 students from different faculties of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).

The team won the Cruiser Class title in 2013 with its first car, Stella.

'By deciding to further improve on our solar-powered four-person car, we're once again aiming to win while at the same time proving that this energy-positive family car offers a viable future scenario', says Solar Team Eindhoven's Team Manager Tom Selten.

This year the student team is once again taking part in the biennial Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia.

The race for solar-powered cars covers a distance of 3,000 km, and goes right through the heart of the outback from Darwin to Adelaide.

After the World Solar Challenge the team are planning a tour through the Netherlands, China and the USA.

'With Stella Lux we want to take the next step in bringing a solar car to the consumer. Therefore we want to show Lux to as many people as possible and we hope to inspire them.' says Tom Selten.

'We see a future where everybody drives a solar car, where all cars produce energy instead of consuming it.

Stella Lux generates electricity via 5.8 sq m (62.4 sq ft) of solar cells and has an additional battery capacity of 15 kWh.

A full charge provides a range of over 1,000 km (621 mi) in the Dutch climate or 1,100 km (684 mi) in the Australian climate, and the car has a top speed of 125 km/h (78 mph).

Stella Lux: The four seater family car powered by the sun

Stella Lux generates electricity via 5.8 sq m (62.4 sq ft) of solar cells and has an additional battery capacity of 15 kWh

Amongst the other features of Solar Lux are the ability to unlock the car doors when a paired smartphone is nearby and a touchscreen with haptic buttons that is designed to be used without the driver taking their eyes off the road.

he efficiency of Stella Lux is further improved by using a specially designed navigation system. The Solar Navigator system monitors weather and chooses the optimal route accordingly.

To achieve these figures, the car has been designed to be both lightweight and aerodynamic. Materials including carbon fiber and aluminum are used to keep the vehicle's weight down to just 375 kg (827 lb).

In order to optimize aerodynamics, meanwhile, the car has a tunnel running through its center, and it sports an extended roof on either side.

The efficiency of Stella Lux is further improved by using a specially designed navigation system. The Solar Navigator system monitors weather and chooses the optimal route accordingly.

Amongst the other features of Solar Lux are the ability to unlock the car doors when a paired smartphone is nearby, a smartphone app that can prepopulate routes based on a user's calendar appointments, and a touchscreen designed to be used without the driver taking their eyes off the road.