Solar Highways

[terryg]

I know the 'environmental' aspect of this project may not be well received by many here. I don't disagree with the suspicions about motive with most environmental initiatives.

However, I still think the project is pretty darn cool. I don't know how practical it will prove to be, but cool nonetheless.

http://www.wimp.com/solarhighways/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[74novaman]

We can't even keep our asphalt roads in good condition...I don't see us maintaining these very well.

[terryg]

We can't even keep our asphalt roads in good condition...I don't see us maintaining these very well.

Yeah, that was one of the first things that came to my mind ...

[Dave2]

I'd want to know the costs involved, the expected service life of a panel, and how it would affect the taxpayers' electric bills before making any decisions. Oh, and a full environmental impact report since they're billing this as being so green.

I also want the test program to run in Plano, because that is a cool thing they've got there. Although I'd ditch the part where they update the LEDs wirelessly. It's too vulnerable to hacking, plus it takes more power & requires more complex circuitry.

Seriously, lose the wireless. People will hack it to watch TV in front of their car.

[Mando'a]

Maybe I missed it, but if it's a glass laminate on top... won't it be slick when wet?
Will a new type of tire be needed?

I'm sure I missed it...

[flb_78]

I think it's a dumb idea. Build roads out of concrete. They last longer then asphalt roads.

[terryg]

Maybe I missed it, but if it's a glass laminate on top... won't it be slick when wet?
Will a new type of tire be needed?

I'm sure I missed it...

I don't think they addressed it specifically. But traction was something that was mentioned as being key in the beginning. The dialog about glass being able to be given various properties (such as strength), I think could imply that it could be given texture as well.

[Hoi Polloi]

That's really cool!

I'd want to know if the highway has to be shut down to fix electrical problems and how long that would take. It would be neat if they could have some sort of walkway underneath to access it for maintenance and repair.

[Mando'a]

Maybe I missed it, but if it's a glass laminate on top... won't it be slick when wet?
Will a new type of tire be needed?

I'm sure I missed it...

I don't think they addressed it specifically. But traction was something that was mentioned as being key in the beginning. The dialog about glass being able to be given various properties (such as strength), I think could imply that it could be given texture as well.

Wow, I re-watched it after my original post, missed it a 2nd time... it's horrible living with ADD

It does sounds like a great concept though..

Thanks

[The Annoyed Man]

I saw a TV show about this technology, and from a purely theoretical standpoint, it is very intriguing. And even if you vanquish the traction issue (not that hard, actually), here is the real problem....

ALL roads, even concrete roads, eventually get chuckholes and breakup of the traction surface. When it happens to concrete, the surface breaks down into cement chunks, gravel, and sand. When it happens to asphalt, the surface breaks down into asphalt chunks, gravel, sand, and tar/oils. Glass, on the other hand, breaks into razor sharp chips that will cut right through a tire as efficiently as any knife.

And for anyone who gets ejected onto such a surface, or knocked off a motorcycle onto it, they might just as well slide down a razor-blade bannister.

(Now try and get that thought out of your head! )

[hangfour]

I bet we will get teleportation up and running before we have 'glass' highways. What we scientists forget about is the political power of those who are heavily invested in doing things the old way. Even in the sciences, progress marches on funeral by funeral.

[Hoi Polloi]

Glass is made of sand, isn't it? If road-grade glass (stronger than scientific grade and cooking grade) was wearing down, it would make more dust than splinters, wouldn't it?

[karl]

The composition of such a "road grade" glass would be achieved by admixtures. I assume it would still have the properties of commercial glass, so it would still shatter. Your windshield fixes this with lamination, or laminate glass, to prevent the same shattering effect of tempered glass.

[karl]

I bet we will get teleportation up and running before we have 'glass' highways. What we scientists forget about is the political power of those who are heavily invested in doing things the old way. Even in the sciences, progress marches on funeral by funeral.

Not only that, concrete is a lot easier and time is money. Quantum leaps drive innovation, this is most certainly not a leap when it uses readily available materials like glass and LEDs.

[flb_78]

And for anyone who gets ejected onto such a surface, or knocked off a motorcycle onto it, they might just as well slide down a razor-blade bannister.

(Now try and get that thought out of your head! )

It's already a problem along the highways.