solar roads and history of effects

The solar roadway is a brilliant idea. Chances are it won't be implemented. There are too many roads and the price would be way too high to install these.
 
why not? It would probably be a couple billion short of the socialist health-care we're looking at and would likely do more for the country.
/no point rant.

But yes, it would be way to high for what it's worth. It would eventually pay for itself, but over the course of a few decades. And I'm sure they require a small amount of maintenance.
 
^

No, not really. We have solar and it's certainly not cheap. It was 40 grand just for the panels on the roof. I didn't fully read the article so I can't say what type of solar they are looking into and which roads they intend to use it on, but a project like this (over 90% of the roads in America) could easily cost well over a couple hundred billion. Which, with electricity at ~10cents per kWh, (or at least around where I live, just under DC) The government would be losing their asses on the deal. Furthermore, The maintanence that the panels would require from tire wear would also have to be factored in. Plus the cost of removing and replacing the panels everytime it came for repaving the road. And top it all of, the casualties that could be suffered because of the low-friction design solar panels have.

Trust me, I'm all for the idea because I think solar is the way to go. But it's just not practical for roadways.

EDIT: I did find the time to read the article and I am quite impressed. However, the cost issues stands.
 
theres no repaving the road if you read the article the panels are the road
and the glass used is almost maintness free just requires maybe a street sweeper every once in a while and if were ganna spend trillions on other stupid things might as well be on getting off oil
 
Couldn't we just put solar panels in unused areas? Some freeways have rather large medians, solar panels could be placed there.
 
I haven't seen these panels, but wouldn't they have a ridiculous glare problem since they are made of glass. Even textured glass produces some glare.
 
That sounds cool, I wonder if you could take it one step further and maybe use the solar panels to transfer their power to the cars in some way!
 
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