Solar Roadways: The Prototype

[DeSwiss]

Run time: 04:38 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep4L18zOEYI   Posted on YouTube: June 02, 2010 By YouTube Member: YERTians Views on YouTube: 131672   Posted on DU: August 04, 2010 By DU Member: DeSwiss Views on DU: 599

 

[RC]

1. So, roads build from glass. Mix that with a light rain after a few days of normal traffic and you

have something comparable to "as slick as snot on glass".
Studded tires? Tire chains?
Where are these guys? Southern California?

[DeSwiss]

2. I don't think....

...they're talking about a "sheet of glass" type of roadway design.



But I know I wouldn't travel on a snot highway either! ;)

[JDPriestly]

4. If the electricity in the roadway is partly used to heat the surface

in the winter, there would be no chance for freezing or ice. Seems to me, but I'm no engineer.

What I'm wondering is whether there is enough of the raw materials required to make solar panels to do this.

[RC]

6. @ -20°F with 40 MPH winds and blowing snow with nothing between you and the North Pole except Canada

Ya sure, ya betcha.

[jberryhill]

7. "If the electricity in the roadway is partly used to heat the surface"

Or, better yet, shine sunlight on it!

Oh... wait a minute...

[redixdoragon]

8. The resources? Not in the traditional method

Photo Voltaic (SP) cells require a quite pure form of silicon, so the cost would be astronomical to pave each road we have this way, and might not be possible, what with the cost of mining, refining and then procusing said silicon. The best option might be more of the nanocells I've read about. They require far more common minerals and can be produced in huge quantities cheaply.

[Fearless]

3. With some modifications... particularly durability issues...

I think it would work.

[mucifer]

5. That was AMAZING! I'm hoping they can do this.