Solar Roadways Get DoT Funding

mikee805 writes "Solar Roadways, a project to replace over 25,000 square miles of road in the US with solar panels you can drive on, just received $100,000 in funding from the Department of Transportation for the first 12ft-by-12ft prototype panel. Each panel consists of three layers: a base layer with data and power cables running through it, an electronics layer with an array of LEDs, solar collectors and capacitors, and finally the glass road surface. With data and power cables, the solar roadway has the potential to replace some of our aging infrastructure. With only 15% efficiency, 25,000 square miles of solar roadways could produce three times what the US uses annually in energy. The building costs are estimated to be competitive with traditional roads, and the solar roads would heat themselves in the winter to keep snow from accumulating."

Comments

Brilliant

[Nethemas the Great]

Germany lines their highways with solar panels too. The difference is they don't drive on the damn things. They put them on the side in the already existing right of way. I don't get what the point of spending all that money so they can be driven on is. Aside from the obvious wear and tear, what about the fact that cars are covering up the panels? It's good that people are thinking outside the box but what happened to the reality check before we shell out money on such an impractical idea.

Why does nobody mention THIS:

[Hurricane78]

Glass is extremely slippery. At least if you still want to get light trough, and don't want it to be sharp like a razor blade.

I just imagine a partially roughed glass surface, with some sharp parts breaking out, barefoot kids cutting their feet, and cars still either sliding or cutting their wheels.