isnt this really the type of crazy thinking that we need to start embracing though?
It would be better then doing what we are doing now with roads, especially in the north where you pretty much have to replace roads every other year it seems.
Quick facts:
Our project has received two phases of funding from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration for research and development of a paving system that will pay for itself over its lifespan.
Solar Roadways is a modular system that will modernize our aging infrastructure with an intelligent system that can become the new Smart Grid. We took first place in GE's Ecomagination Challenge for "Powering the Grid" in 2010. We also won first place in their 2011 Ecomagination Challenge for "Powering the Home".
The Federal Highway Administration also tasked us to add a component to address the problem of stormwater. We have created a section in our Cable Corridors for storing, treating, and moving stormwater.
Our glass surface has been tested for traction, load testing, and impact resistance testing in civil engineering laboratories around the country, and exceeded all requirements.
We are about to wrap up our Phase II contract (to build a prototype parking lot) and now need to raise funding for production.
there was a TED talk recently where a guy showed off some new asphalt tech that actually repaired itself when it was heated. he broke it in half on stage then microwaved it and it was fixed.
in terms of sustainable roads, that is much more likely than gorilla glass highways
retrofit existing roads with a glass panel, an information panel, and a conduit panel?
I've always felt that this would work best as a "time to repair the roads or asphalt them!" scheme, where instead of maintaining our bs, we go in and change it out with this as needed
course that would create significant (10 years?) lag time for grid connectivity and stuff
maybe do a few major roads in each city around the nation for one large grid that can connect right away, then expand out as roads come up for repairs
https://tdotrob.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/solar-roadways-is-funding-and-why-you-should-care/
So if you are calculating a business case, start with ROI of a solar cell used strictly for power generation. Now add back in…
Don’t need snow plows
Don’t need salt and slag
Don’t need lane striping paint
Don’t need overhead wiring infrastructure
Don’t need massive tracts of land for solar farms
Don’t need new fossil or nuclear power plants
Fewer overhead lights required
Modular road repair
Smart modules signal for replacement prior to failure
Paver modules are incrementally upgradeable to new technology
Integrated fiber and cable corridors
Integrated subsurface cell towers
Capture and treat/recycle vehicle waste (oil, gas, rubber) at the source
Lanes dynamically reconfigure (i.e. near the stadium or for evacuation)
Road detects hazards (blown retread) and guides traffic around them
Dynamic signage embedded in the road
Road that charges electric vehicles using induction and while they drive
Smart parking lots that lead you to an open space
Traffic control sensors that can detect a motorcycle or scooter and cycle the light
Visual cues guide slower drivers out of the fast lanes
Moving traffic pacing beacons on roads and on-ramps
Precise emergency responder information
Visual indicator replaces flares for accidents
Visual indicator of emergency vehicles approaching
Visual indicator of drunk oncoming driver entering freeway on wrong ramp
Are you starting to get the picture?
205k raised