Endless Electricity: Turning America's Roads Into Gigantic Solar Panel

[psycopk]

There are about 31,251 square miles of roads, parking lots, driveways, playgrounds, bike paths, and sidewalks in the lower 48 states. If Julie and Scott Brusaw have their way, they will all someday be replaced with solar panels.

For the better part of a decade, the Idaho couple has been working on prototyping an industrial-strength panel that could withstand the weight of even the largest trucks. They now appear to have cracked the formula, developing a specially textured glass coating for the panels that can not only bear tremendous loads but also support standard tire traction. 

By their reckoning, at peak installation their panelized roads could produce more than three times the electricity consumed in the U.S.

The material could power electric vehicles through a receiver plate mounted beneath the vehicle and a transmitter plate is installed in the road.

 

Solar Roadways

The project has already received two phases of funding from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, and last year featured in Google's Moonshot series. They're now incorporated as Solar Roadways.

Right now, they're looking to raise $1 million on IndieGogo to move beyond the prototype and into production. Since announcing the campaign three weeks ago, they've received $112,000.

If you're wondering why they're choosing crowdfunding given the potentially large interest from investors, so have many others. Their reason for doing so is rather noble. As they explain on their website (via John Aziz):

The idea to launch a crowdfunding campaign came to us from so many supporters that we looked into it. We have always been concerned about protecting our vision to implement this in the way that we think will have the most benefit: creating American jobs rather than outsourcing and then adding manufacturing facilities in other countries. That way we could help the economies everywhere providing many thousands of jobs. We have a vision for the way our facilities will be - campus like - with a positive atmosphere. We want to use as many recycled materials as we can and keep our manufacturing process as green as possible. We could go on, but you get the picture. If we can raise enough funds here, we won't have to take on an investor and we won't have to worry about losing our focus. If you like our vision and want to help, we'd be honored to have you in our corner.

Here is an artist's rendering of what it someday could look like:

Solar Roadways

It could also be used in parking lots:

Solar Roadways

Definitely something you wish you'd thought of first

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/solar-roadways-profile-2014-5#ixzz31iMRW8mA

[Spartan]

racha kada....

 

kaani varsham padinappudu what about the traction for tires...skid ayye chances ekkuva kada..

 

asale ikkada Moist and Fog ekkuva...so koncham mositure unna air lo....the road will become slippery...

 

and Dust etc road meeda padatam to....it might decrease the efficiency..asale solar panels efficiency ratio antanta matrame..inka dust and soil add avute bisket..

 

added to that maintainence cost.....

 

 

not a practical one ba..might be helpful in Malls etc...

[chedugudu_chidambaram]

Peddavallaki Chipili Friends Ki Matrame..
 

[ChampakDas]

friction? it will not be a smooth drive - consequences when an accident occurs will be high anukunta also possibility of stealing them is very high...in short, not feasible

[psycopk]

racha kada....

 

kaani varsham padinappudu what about the traction for tires...skid ayye chances ekkuva kada..

 

asale ikkada Moist and Fog ekkuva...so koncham mositure unna air lo....the road will become slippery...

 

and Dust etc road meeda padatam to....it might decrease the efficiency..asale solar panels efficiency ratio antanta matrame..inka dust and soil add avute bisket..

 

added to that maintainence cost.....

 

 

not a practical one ba..might be helpful in Malls etc...

 

US lo kaka poina.. india lo price reaosnable ga unte baga click avutundi rural areas lo..
 

[Spartan]

friction? it will not be a smooth drive - consequences when an accident occurs will be high anukunta also possibility of stealing them is very high...in short, not feasible

 

they are saying that traction is provided but how much anedi telvad..as per practical case scenarios..

[Hummer]

summer ok, winter lo enti paristhiti snow pade daggara 

[Spartan]

US lo kaka poina.. india lo price reaosnable ga unte baga click avutundi rural areas lo..
 

 

India lo click kaad baa...

 

may be in railway stns etc pettukovachu kaani road meeda ante..

 

manollu reliance lines ani..BSNl lines ani drianage lines ani roads anni tovvesi..

 

vadilestaru....avi poorchadanike dikku undadu..inka ilantivi veste ela....

[k2s]

racha kada....

 

kaani varsham padinappudu what about the traction for tires...skid ayye chances ekkuva kada..

 

asale ikkada Moist and Fog ekkuva...so koncham mositure unna air lo....the road will become slippery...

 

and Dust etc road meeda padatam to....it might decrease the efficiency..asale solar panels efficiency ratio antanta matrame..inka dust and soil add avute bisket..

 

added to that maintainence cost.....

 

 

not a practical one ba..might be helpful in Malls etc...

varshalu snow padani places try setharu mna 

[k2s]

India lo click kaad baa...

 

may be in railway stns etc pettukovachu kaani road meeda ante..

 

manollu reliance lines ani..BSNl lines ani drianage lines ani roads anni tovvesi..

 

vadilestaru....avi poorchadanike dikku undadu..inka ilantivi veste ela....

CITI_c$y

[donganaaK]

racha kada....

 

kaani varsham padinappudu what about the traction for tires...skid ayye chances ekkuva kada..

 

asale ikkada Moist and Fog ekkuva...so koncham mositure unna air lo....the road will become slippery...

 

and Dust etc road meeda padatam to....it might decrease the efficiency..asale solar panels efficiency ratio antanta matrame..inka dust and soil add avute bisket..

 

added to that maintainence cost.....

 

 

not a practical one ba..might be helpful in Malls etc...

 

panels ni koncham rough ga undey laga manufacture cheyochu ga , they need not be as smooth as the've  shown in the pics but NHTSA approval raavatam almost impossible deeniki , it needs too many $ frm federal govt fr testing

[Spartan]

varshalu snow padani places try setharu mna 

 

Snow ki Moisture ki teda telvada...

[Spartan]

panels ni koncham rough ga undey laga manufacture cheyochu ga , they need not be as smooth as the've  shown in the pics but NHTSA approval raavatam almost impossible deeniki , it needs too many $ frm federal govt fr testing

 

the RTA is already funding it man....federal road transport valle..

 

and they claim it is tougher to withstand the large sized trucks....

 

it not reg the toughness...its reg the weather conditions..

[Betting Bangarraju]

Maintenance will be a big issue. Will not work for US Roads. May be Roof Tops, Buildings side glass covering, Flyovers (may be a try). Overall its not the suggestible solution. 

 

:4_12_13:

[donganaaK]

the RTA is already funding it man....federal road transport valle..

 

and they claim it is tougher to withstand the large sized trucks....

 

it not reg the toughness...its reg the weather conditions..

 

yeah adey le too many complications when it comes to public safety .. US govt ah vishayam even 0.001% risk cheyatam kuda imposs .. and i guess the reason y they went fr crowd funding is cuz it was dificult fr them to find angel investors fr their idea.. ah article chadivithe the reason they stated seemed stupid