Soldato
I saw this video last week, thought it was an awesome idea! The only negative I can see, is the cost
Solar Freakin Roadways
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Man of Honour
Perhaps Road Tax could pay for it.
(Yes I said Road Tax)
(Yes I said Road Tax)
Soldato
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Yes it is at 40 seconds where he claims the covering material has met all impact, load and traction requirements.
Soldato
Or replace the broken roads with solar freakin roadways. The idea in theory makes sense, reduces the effective new cost of a solar road as you would be paying for resurfacing anyway and should any problems arise instead of patching a pot hole eventually resurfacing a single panel could be replaced.
The problem is going to be cost, I suspect the panels simply are not cheap enough yet to mean this is a viable idea. Though maybe to start with small areas could be done like playgrounds or car parks.
Soldato
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"Imagine all the jobs solar roads would create"
True, but would it result in a net increase in jobs because they'd also be a lot of lost trades as well like tarmackers, line painters, asphalt suppliers and all the manufacturers of current road surfacing equipment.
True, but would it result in a net increase in jobs because they'd also be a lot of lost trades as well like tarmackers, line painters, asphalt suppliers and all the manufacturers of current road surfacing equipment.
Soldato
Driveways would be a good starting place I reckon.
Associate
Sounds like a great idea however if be interested to know the costs you involved.
Especially since - from what I understood from the annoying video - effectively you need to build a concrete road to bolt the panels down onto and also the channel at either side, one for drainage the other for the cabling. I think this would add significantly to the cost and would also mean it's much harder - if not almost impossible - to 'reuse' existing roads.
Especially since - from what I understood from the annoying video - effectively you need to build a concrete road to bolt the panels down onto and also the channel at either side, one for drainage the other for the cabling. I think this would add significantly to the cost and would also mean it's much harder - if not almost impossible - to 'reuse' existing roads.
Pretty much this, energy companies don't give a **** about clean energy. They'd burn whale oil if it was most profitable to do so and they'll use their vast power and resources to lobby against anything which threatens their energy production.
It would need to be subsidized at the start until it becomes cheap enough.... The same as "green energy and other crap"
This is my view, how much testing have they acctually done. As much as I believe everyone on OcUK doesn't speed or trash their car not everyone is the same. R
Sorry! Watched the video a while back.
yea they won't let that monopoly go for anything they can't control
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According to the reports done, it surpasses expectations for grip, durability and it can easily hold the weight of 88,000lb lorries (44t artics) and resist the impact of said lorry falling on its side.
Best of all though the panels are easy to replace, so no need for extensive road works to fix a little section, just pull up, unplug old, replace with new and be done in a few minutes.
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While energy companies might be thinking "no freakin way" whats to stop them stumping up the cash to buy them and then "sell" the electricity to us for using their infrastructure.
Soldato
A key benefit which I'm unsure if it's being touched on or not is that it essentially creates a distribution network - roads usually tie in very well with the same parts of the country which need energy. Not to mention if done correctly internet & phone cables could also be run & replace/installed via a modular repair system.
Additionally a powered surface ties in very well with self-drive cars (sensors within the road) & opens up many interesting fields of study looking at UK wide live driver behaviour. A up/down side (pending on perspective) is that 'live roads' also open up for door for near perfect driver monitoring - once you can track all cars across the roads speeding & wreck-less driving becomes pretty obvious to stop.
Additionally a powered surface ties in very well with self-drive cars (sensors within the road) & opens up many interesting fields of study looking at UK wide live driver behaviour. A up/down side (pending on perspective) is that 'live roads' also open up for door for near perfect driver monitoring - once you can track all cars across the roads speeding & wreck-less driving becomes pretty obvious to stop.
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I'd be interested to see how advanced a society we'd live in if we didn't have a bunch of selfish ********* slamming the brakes on at any sign of progress.
Good or bad, it'd be interesting to see how much further we were.
Seems like a good idea on paper...
however, using these for car parks though kind of defeats the object? I live near Lakeside(shopping centre), during sunshine hours the car parks are full meaning the vast majority will not even be operating?
You could perhaps say this about parts of the M25 during rush hour / bank holidays / etc.
During the winter when nights are long and the daylight short, will they be generating enough electricity to power them through the night?
however, using these for car parks though kind of defeats the object? I live near Lakeside(shopping centre), during sunshine hours the car parks are full meaning the vast majority will not even be operating?
You could perhaps say this about parts of the M25 during rush hour / bank holidays / etc.
During the winter when nights are long and the daylight short, will they be generating enough electricity to power them through the night?
Man of Honour
I love future tech like this. Sadly it's always blocked by fatcats.
Depressing society we have atm.
Depressing society we have atm.
Soldato
I'd imagine pavements would also be converting (solving part of the problem of busy roads) - the additional benefit would be that in areas which are lit artificially already - also powers solar panels in those areas at night.
To trail I'd find an area with the most sunlight within the year, good roads & well lit during night-times - a south coast city would be a good testing ground.
To trail I'd find an area with the most sunlight within the year, good roads & well lit during night-times - a south coast city would be a good testing ground.