On Thu, 2 May 2019 at 22:24, Yuri Astrakhan <yuriastrak...@gmail.com> wrote:
> or it could have solar panels integrated into it > Yes, roads with integrated solar panels have been proposed. Any rational engineering analysis comes to the conclusion that this is a very, very stupid idea for many reasons. Nevertheless, there have been some trials. All have done worse than the analyses. They have been thoroughly debunked. The surface isn't durable. The panels are very expensive in labour costs to replace when they break. They don't give enough traction. A horizontal surface means sub-optimal efficiency, getting worse the further you get from the equator. Traffic on the roads shields the panels from the sun. So there are a few trials scattered around the world. There's little chance they'll become widespread without several major technological breakthroughs because it's far cheaper and more efficient to put panels over a road than embed them within it. You raised some good points about surface features (which may not be limited to just asphalt) but solar panels is unlikely to be one of them. And if they're solar panels that have embedded leds for smart road-surface signage and embedded heating elements for melting snow, they are a complete scam. So we'll never have to invent a tag for "Solar Freakin' Roadways" (that's what they call themselves). -- Paul
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