Solar Highways made of Glass.

[DBCooper]

Enjoy.

http://www.wimp.com/solarhighways/

[Glass]

Its an obvious thing isn't it? I always wonder why roofs are also not solar collectors as well. When you look at a city and the amount of heat it produces on top of the heat it radiates from all the concrete/bitumen it's no wonder it affects the atmospheric conditions directly above and down range. All that energy could be captured and used.

[k-os]

That would be so awesome! It would be expensive, but it would be incredible. I think these guys should get some of that BS stimulus money. At least with their project would actually stimulate the economy through the creation of jobs and incredible new technology.

[keehah]

Notice the Queenle diversion by the host. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATmiX1tofBY

OP reminded me of my high-tech days of Corp spending.

[the riot act]

That would be so awesome! It would be expensive, but it would be incredible. I think these guys should get some of that BS stimulus money. At least with their project would actually stimulate the economy through the creation of jobs and incredible new technology.


You don't think that they are doing this foolishness with their own money do you?

Glass roads, yup, not that the earth doesn't make minor shifts now and then. Never mind does the grid go down when it develops a pothole?

[DBCooper]

The costs would be about the same or less.

As far as worrying about sinkholes etc ,they happen anyhow.

[Heimdhal]

Heck, even if you just did it on low volume neighborhood roads you could generate enough power for the neighborhood and then some. Imagine that being your drive way and roof.


My only question is, like household solar powered systems, is this road way system going to feed into massive battery banks to hold the power generated? How are they going to attach it to "the grid" and keep the power from constantly flucuating with the weather, exposure, etc.?

Still, not a bad idea over all.

[DBCooper]

Dunno,but im sure you could create a hybrid system.

[zap]

You know I get so disgusted with some of this crap, They can't even make solar panels cheap enough for most people to buy $ 562.00 + tax for 180 watt panel, figure at least $ 25,000.00 just for panels and an inverter, not to mention labor to install a system on a standard size house 1500 to 1800 sq ft.

And they think they can build a big friggin highway out of solar panels. (ya that would be cost effective.)

[the riot act]

I think these guys should get some of that BS stimulus money. At least with their project would actually stimulate the economy through the creation of jobs and incredible new technology.


Like I said above. Do you think that they didn't get some free money (grants) to get as far as they are? Everybody has to make a buck here and there. Grants are the biggest scam ever invented.

[Joe King]

It's a neat idea, but every road I see has wide dark lines down the middle of the lanes from oil drip.
So if used for our petrol powered vehicles, I'd think many of the solar cells would become covered in oil residue pretty quickly, thereby reducing the efficiency of the system.
Or we could make hi-tech street cleaners to go around scrubbing all the roads all day long.

Although if we all had electric cars and trucks, a way to recharge them as you drove might also be possible with roads like that.
Imagine a World with no fuel stations.

[DMac]

Next we'll be powering our cars with poop. Oh wait

[keehah]

This is practical and worth doing in some areas. This can charge batteries too at the same time for the proportion of a trip without overhead grid-wire.

The highway where trucks work like electric trains
In Lübeck, Germany, there's one of several eHighway test projects: overhead catenary wires, where electric trucks with pantographs can pull power directly from the grid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3P_S7pL7Yg
4:29

[monty]

Comparison of overall efficiency for internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles. The only way the electric vehicle gains an advantage over internal combustion engines is when it can draw 100% of its power from wind / solar.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Assaf-3/publication/344860096_Comparison_of_the_Overall_Energy_Efficie ncy_for_Internal_Combustion_Engine_Vehicles_and_El ectric_Vehicles/links/5f940a01299bf1b53e408842/Comparison-of-the-Overall-Energy-Efficiency-for-Internal-Combustion-Engine-Vehicles-and-Electric-Vehicles.pdf?origin=publication_detail (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Assaf-3/publication/344860096_Comparison_of_the_Overall_Energy_Efficie ncy_for_Internal_Combustion_Engine_Vehicles_and_El ectric_Vehicles/links/5f940a01299bf1b53e408842/Comparison-of-the-Overall-Energy-Efficiency-for-Internal-Combustion-Engine-Vehicles-and-Electric-Vehicles.pdf?origin=publication_detail)

[keehah]

The only way the electric vehicle gains an advantage over internal combustion engines is when it can draw 100% of its power from wind / solar.
(https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammed-Assaf-3/publication/344860096_Comparison_of_the_Overall_Energy_Efficie ncy_for_Internal_Combustion_Engine_Vehicles_and_El ectric_Vehicles/links/5f940a01299bf1b53e408842/Comparison-of-the-Overall-Energy-Efficiency-for-Internal-Combustion-Engine-Vehicles-and-Electric-Vehicles.pdf?origin=publication_detail)

Why do you omit coal, hydro and nuclear?

[monty]

Why do you omit coal, hydro and nuclear?

That is a good question, I thought coal was in their study but I did notice they did not include hydro. I didn't realize they hadn't included nuclear until you pointed it out.

Before this covid scam I read an analysis that made an overall comparison from mining the materials to produce the vehicles, manufacturing , the fuel efficiency factors, energy for electrical production and energy for acquiring the petroleum and refining it into fuels then the energy necessary for disposal of the worn out vehicles. That study also rated diesel power ahead of electric.

However figures lie and liars figure so who is going to give us a totally unbiased report?