Solar Roadways

[~primetime~]

http://www.ijreview.com/2014/05/141368-futuristic-idea-cool-regardless-stand-climate-change/

seems so obvious...this has to happen

[D-FENS]

http://www.ijreview.com/2014/05/141368-futuristic-idea-cool-regardless-stand-climate-change/

seems so obvious...this has to happen

I hope so.

[East_Stone_Ya]

can you imagine the cost of constructing these type of roads and repairing them?

[gigantes]

i was looking at those a couple weeks ago. i like how they can be programmed to meet the needs of whatever place they're installed at. sort of the same idea as this:


http://img.izismile.com/img/img7/20140515/1000/daily_gifdump_621_17.gif


biggest challenge is probably that they'll be pricey as hell upfront, even if they make the money back eventually. hopefully some creative funding can be found, plus maybe communities can install section by section, letting the money earned after a while pay for the next section to be placed.

[~primetime~]

can you imagine the cost of constructing these type of roads and repairing them?
I was thinking about that the entire time I was watching the vid in the OP...It probably all comes down to how many years it would take for them to pay for themselves.

[Jailblazers7]

i was looking at those a couple weeks ago. i like how they can be programmed to meet the needs of whatever place they're installed at. sort of the same idea as this:


http://img.izismile.com/img/img7/20140515/1000/daily_gifdump_621_17.gif


biggest challenge is probably that they'll be pricey as hell upfront, even if they make the money back eventually. hopefully some creative funding can be found, plus maybe communities can install section by section, letting the money earned after a while pay for the next section to be placed.

Well, one obvious way to boost funding is a carbon tax. We should have one already but an infrastructure program like this would be a convenient excuse.

[gigantes]

Well, one obvious way to boost funding is a carbon tax. We should have one already but an infrastructure program like this would be a convenient excuse.
definitely govt incentives could work. a little of the whip, a little of the carrot.

[MadeFromDust]

F U two anti-American dirtbags ^^ that'll never fly. Besides there is no global warming, totally exists in the fantasies of the Algores of the world

[gigantes]

F U two anti-American dirtbags ^^
and thus... it is spoken!

[Swaggin916]

It's the way of the future... way of the future... way of the future.

But seriously yea this or something like it is no brainer. Renewable energy is the only thing that makes any sense when it comes down to it... Everything else is just details.

[maybeshewill13]

I read from a dude who did extensive studies on these that it's just too expensive. You constantly have to repair them, they fade with the sun/graffiti/tire marks etc so they lose their solar energy output and need to be replaced constantly. Nope.

[gigantes]

I read from a dude who did extensive studies on these that it's just too expensive. You constantly have to repair them, they fade with the sun/graffiti/tire marks etc so they lose their solar energy output and need to be replaced constantly. Nope.
just speculation, but i don't see the glass layer, the solar panel or the LED components fading too much. how do you see that working, exactly?

glass may get scuffed up, true, but everything should still be pretty functional barring heavier physical damage, no?

but hey... maybe they can integrate discreet graphene or carbon fibers to prevent breakage from accidents and heavy trucks and stuff.

okay, maybe this is pie in the sky... maybe. but IMO a lot of life comes down to making an effort and being able to live with the results.

and we? ...we're losing the battle right now.

there is a faint hope to me that something like this may inspire people / change some minds... maybe help spread a certain movement. maybe. better than going down like a bunch of self-centered idiots, no?

haha, sorry just some thoughts. :P

[RoseCity07]

Just another way for the NBA to rig games. I could see the 3 point line being moved closer on whatever side the Lakers are shooting.

[MadeFromDust]

Why not just dig up more oil? Solutions should be simple. Follow Texas' lead people hellooo

[LongLiveTheKing]

Never gonna happen in the US

[gigantes]

that's the spirit! :cheers:

[East_Stone_Ya]

Just another way for the NBA to rig games. I could see the 3 point line being moved closer on whatever side the Lakers are shooting.

what? :oldlol:

[Godzuki]

they can't even figure out how to prevent pot holes with cement now. every time i see a pot hole repaired its back like a few weeks later. to think they can make these video game roads? it would be great for advertisers tho.

[JtotheIzzo]

They need to test them, its not like going out and restructuring the entire road system is feasible.

Start with a few streets in each municipality, see how it goes, work out the bugs (maybe they won't work well in wintery places and maybe they won't work well in high density urban places when the light is blocked by buildings), but desert highways, sunny places like California, they'd be great.

****ing Bill Gates, Warren Buffett etc. Should all donate 5 Billion to get the project jumping.

[gigantes]

they can't even figure out how to prevent pot holes with cement now. every time i see a pot hole repaired its back like a few weeks later. to think they can make these video game roads? it would be great for advertisers tho.
asphalt, i think. so it binds well when patched, can shrink and expand without cracking, and provides a smoother ride. which unfortunately inevitably leads to potholes.

pretty different situation with these since these are basically tiles. really old school in a way. by having the hard tiles sitting on some firm but soft layers you hopefully wouldn't get potholes. obviously it's important to get the foundation right, which prolly rules out many areas.

[gigantes]

btw i'm thinking tiles will prolly be designed to share surplus juice, so that individual deficits will be covered. that should help those solar issues.

[~primetime~]

They need to test them, its not like going out and restructuring the entire road system is feasible.

Start with a few streets in each municipality, see how it goes, work out the bugs (maybe they won't work well in wintery places and maybe they won't work well in high density urban places when the light is blocked by buildings), but desert highways, sunny places like California, they'd be great.

****ing Bill Gates, Warren Buffett etc. Should all donate 5 Billion to get the project jumping.
Yep, let's see this in action on ONE highway in Nevada or Arizona, NM, etc.... like one decent 20 mile strip.

and then go from there

[rufuspaul]

Somewhat related:

What it's like to own a Tesla Model S (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla_model_s)

[nightprowler10]

Somewhat related:

What it's like to own a Tesla Model S (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla_model_s)
:oldlol: at the crotch distance graph.