A new solar vehicle is creating quite a buzz.
The Stella Terra uses solar panels on its sloping roof to charge an electric battery, meaning it can drive long distances powered entirely by the sun.
A team from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands completed a major test of the vehicle in Morocco earlier this month -- driving more than 621 miles between the country's northern coast and the Sahara Desert.
"It was an incredible trip with a positive ending. Stella Terra's efficiency was hard to predict. That's why we weren't sure if we would make it on solar power," team manager Wisse Bos said in a statement. "During the ride, Stella Terra turned out to use 30 percent less energy than expected. We were able to drive the entire trip on the sun's energy and did not depend on charging stations."
Stella Terra is believed to be the world's first off-road car powered by the energy of the sun, making it independent of charging stations and paved roads.
The road-legal car has a top speed of 90 miles per hour. On a sunny day, its battery range is around 441 miles on roads, and 342 miles off-road.
In Morocco, the solar car traveled through dry riverbeds, forest area, along steep mountain trails and through the loose desert sand.
"Stella Terra must withstand the harsh conditions of off-roading while remaining efficient and light enough to be powered by the sun. That is why we had to design almost everything for Stella Terra ourselves, from the suspension to the inverters for the solar panels," said Bos.
According to Bos, Stella Terra is five to 10 years ahead of the current market.
"We are pushing the boundaries of technology," he said. "With Stella Terra, we want to demonstrate that the transition to a sustainable future offers reasons for optimism."