Need a hopeful story? 22 students at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, 4 years ago, set out to "really inspire people and the market and society to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable future. What we’re trying to do is to show people and show companies what’s already possible.”

So they made a #solarpunk campervan fully equipped with living essentials including a double bed, sofa, kitchen area and a bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet. It can fit two people, who can drive, cook breakfast and watch television using just the vehicle’s solar-charged battery.

Then they took it on a tour of Europe driving 1,200 miles without stopping for fuel or plugging in to charge. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/stella-vita-solar-campervan-netherlands-spc-intl/index.html

A fully solar-powered campervan has just driven through Europe

Solar Team Eindhoven 2021, a group of students from the Netherlands, have designed and driven a two-person camper powered solely by sunlight.

CNN

@exador23 Here's a funny question: considering how much it cost to build that contraption, what kind of holiday could they have enjoyed, had they simply spent the money on train tickets and hotels?

Northern Europe is of course known for its famously sunny weather that makes solar panels parallel to the ground extra efficient.

@exador23 The thing that slays me about this is that people who you would think have every opportunity to be wiser and more intelligent choose "technological innovation" over non-technological solutions that already exist.

The most efficient technology, by definition, is the one you don't build and don't use. It's called "Forbearance". #PowerDown #LeaveItInTheGround