Solar Roadways: The Prototype

The Solar Roadways project is working to pave roads with solar panels that you can drive on. Co-founder Scott Brusaw has made some major steps forward since our first visit back in 2007, so we visited him again for an exclusive update on the project, including the first ever video recorded of the Solar Roadways prototype! For more information visit http://www.solarroadways.com . This Solar Roadway project is highlighted as one of many planet-friendly solutions in the feature film by YERT - Your Environmental Road Trip. To learn more about YERT, visit http://yert.com .

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[benpowersification]

Yeah, sounds awesome, lets all drive on wet glass. I mean, its not slippery is it?! Definitely a good idea.

[YERTians]

@benpowersification They're working on smart ways of adding texture to the glass so that it essentially becomes a non-slip surface. Pretty amazing. From what I've seen (during a couple visits to PennState, where they're doing some of the research), it seems pretty do-able. We'll see how it turns out! Hopefully they can make it happen.

[sw204me]

If this was in Japan, they would have it already, this will never happen in the USA.

[genanmer]

add piezoelectricity to the idea :)

[theannehiatt]

Imagine getting rid of asphalt and replacing it with something that actually is recycled and smart. I think it is brilliant idea and hope that it is cost effective.

[2015marinecorps]

i love you guys good job really nice job

[videoeyez2]

Solar sidewalks makes more sense. The main problem I see is maintenance of the glass roadway. Tiny dirt particles and dust, along with billions of wheel strokes, will grind grooves into the glass and polish it to a mirror finish. Eventually, it will be worn away. And the vibrations, both direct and sonic will fatigue any circuit board or wiring. Sidewalks on the other hand are hardly ever replaced or require maintenance for decades if ever.

[Donut1337]

@benpowersification Read the website please. I never said the can not be wrong. I never said the government giving money to a project means it will be successful. I said if the government DOES give money to a project( which they chose over many other ideas) they would have questioned if glass is able to be driven on. The properties of glass can be altered extremely.

[benpowersification]

@Donut1337 Your logic is critically flawed. The government can have failed projects -> The government can be wrong -> The government giving money to this project does not mean it will be successful. Arguing that government has common sense suggests that you are a moron. "Obviously they will deal with that" is great, however my question was how were they going to deal with that?

[Donut1337]

@benpowersification What did you think you were the first one to think that glass is slippery? Obviously they would deal with that. Haha I bet you thought you really had an originally problem by commenting and saying glass is slippery.

[Donut1337]

@benpowersification no I was not saying that at all. Of course the government can have failed projects... its common sense, but the government also has enough common sense not to give a $75,000 grant in a contest for "inovative and sustaining road ideas" to something that is to slippery to drive on, and after the $75,000 grant they are giving this idea a phase II $750,000 dollar grant to continue. So it is not too slippery to drive on... period.

[benpowersification]

@Donut1337 After much head scratching I believe I have deciphered your meaning. You put the notion that this project must be successful because it has the backing of government? Ludicrous. By that logic no government project would ever have failed.