PPG Celebrates Reveal of World’s First Solar-powered Ambulance by Eindhoven University Team

PPG celebrated the unveiling of Stella Juva, believed to be the world’s first solar-powered ambulance, developed by Solar Team Eindhoven, a student organization from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Stella Juva is believed to be the world’s first solar-powered ambulance, developed by Solar Team Eindhoven, a student organization from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands

PPG provided a grant of $46,250 (€40,000) to support development of the vehicle and contributed its PPG CORACHAR™ SE 4000 epoxy intumescent battery fire protection coating to help protect the vehicle’s battery system against external fire exposure and internal thermal runaway risks.

The vehicle has solar panels integrated into the roof that generate sufficient energy for driving and for powering onboard medical equipment. By operating fully off-grid, Stella Juva offers a sustainable and practical solution for providing healthcare in remote and underserved regions, including areas where access to electricity or fuel is limited. 

“With this initiative, Solar Team Eindhoven aims not only to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future, but also to create social impact by improving access to healthcare,” said Solar Team manager Mathijs van Gerven. “We were inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which strive to make good healthcare accessible to everyone.”

“A key challenge in the transition to electric and solar-powered mobility is ensuring the safety of battery systems under all operating conditions,” said Shuang Ma, PPG global battery safety platform leader Automotive OEM Coatings. “While battery failures are rare, the consequences of thermal runaway events can be severe. Advanced battery fire protection technologies play an important role in slowing the spread of heat and fire, providing valuable time for occupants and first responders to react. We are proud to contribute our expertise to a project that showcases how innovative mobility solutions can support essential healthcare services.”

PPG CoraChar and PPG CORAGUARD™ battery fire protection coatings form heat insulation and blast resistance barrier during thermal runaway, protecting the battery system and passengers against battery fire. The coatings leverage PPG’s expertise in industrial and commercial fire protection while supporting battery safety, lightweighting and passenger protection. Through the partnership, PPG is providing technical support from its battery fire protection experts in Amsterdam in addition to the financial grant and coating technology.

The collaboration builds on PPG’s previous support of Solar Team Eindhoven’s Stella Terra, the world’s first off-road solar-powered vehicle, unveiled in 2023. Stella Terra demonstrated that solar energy could enable independence from charging infrastructure and paved roads. With Stella Juva, Solar Team Eindhoven is taking the next step by exploring how solar mobility can contribute directly to healthcare delivery.

PPG’s global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested $18.1 million in 2025, supporting 400+ organizations across nearly 30 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow tomorrow’s STEM innovators and skilled workforce in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more here.