Solar Roadways

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

This is true. If you want to stop anything around here, the hippy battle cry is "Coho!"

[Pooky 3,786]

1) I don't think this is viable as a road surface, unfortunately, but I do think this is viable as a parking lot surface. Which is great! That's something.

Anything is possible. You just need innovation, perseverance and enough money to make it happen.

2) As a Raging Liberal, I would be happy if we got our consumption of burny power (nuclear, fossil fuels, etc) down to a mere 50% in North America--every project like this is a step towards that goal.

Mostly, I agree. However, with proper safeguards, nuclear power is the least environmentally damaging form of energy creation around.

3) Hydroelectric is better, imo, than the other options. It's a near constant (depending on location) and it's effective. I'm sure there are more places to build hydroelectric generators, which would make a big dent.

Hydroelectric power is environmentally damaging on an immediate and potentially large scale. It can destroy habitats, both in its immediate vicinity and, potentially, hundreds of miles downriver. The Three Gorges Dam, in China, is even claimed to have affected the rotational period of the planet. http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/how-infamous-hydroelectric-dam-changed-earths-rotation/

Every form of energy has it's price. The question is, in which currency do you want to pay that price?

[GandD 5,966]

Fusion, that's the real answer.

[luckytxn 2,264]

They been spending billions on it so far. Maybe toss a few billion more at that research. Right now they need to figure out the storage of electricity. (batteries) and the decrease from loss of transmission of electricity. We have vast amounts of resources right now.

Fusion, that's the real answer.

[GandD 5,966]

They been spending billions on it so far. Maybe toss a few billion more at that research. Right now they need to figure out the storage of electricity. (batteries) and the decrease from loss of transmission of electricity. We have vast amounts of resources right now.

They have. And have had some success. Nothing would go better with electric cars than a clean, cheap, unlimited energy source.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Mostly, I agree. However, with proper safeguards, nuclear power is the least environmentally damaging form of energy creation around.

I actually agree with you on that. I used to work at a nuclear power plant, once upon a time. But the problem comes with disposing of the waste products. That's literally the only problem. Do you have any information about good ways to dispose? I've been out of the loop awhile.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Yes and they can keep investing in it but that electric car is a haz mat mess right now. Why push things that are not ready? Instead of the Feds shelling out our tax dollars to prop up a failed technology maybe tell the makers that when they solve these things they can receive a goose that lays golden eggs. Right now there is little incentive to try and fix something that is broken.

They have. And have had some success. Nothing would go better with electric cars than a clean, cheap, unlimited energy source.

Edited May 11, 2014 by luckytxn

[GandD 5,966]

Yes and they can keep investing in it but that electric car is a haz mat mess right now. Why push things that are not ready? Instead of the Feds shelling out our tax dollars to prop up a failed technology maybe tell the makers that when they solve these things they can receive a goose that lays golden eggs. Right now there is little incentive to try and fix something that is broken.

I'm with you on the electric cars. I guess it saves some pollution with efficiency of coal/gas plants over individual engines but I don't know what those numbers are. And you're right about batteries. Those things are a hazardous mess.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Anything is possible. You just need innovation, perseverance and enough money to make it happen.

Somethings are just not possible

[dalegg 143]

I love this idea. We get a lot of sun over here in So Cal and I just see a lot of wasted energy going nowhere right now. I want them to pave all the concrete walls and the sides of all the buildings too. Every square inch of the city should be a solar panel.

[Darnell 8,478]

Fusion, that's the real answer.

Cold Fusion is best.

Ya, whenever/where-ever/if-ever it's actually realized...

Still, more power means more Cat Pizza, so that's a plus !

[rlogan 2,036]

They've been getting money for at least five years and have yet to publish any actual test output of electricity from a prototype on the page they claim is dedicated to showing how much power they can produce.

Also quite interesting to hear him say that the cost of the roadway will be about a $1 per square foot once they discover a material that can handle the job. I guess he's clairvoyant. Anyone else would need to know what this yet-to-be-discovered material is and how much it costs for the raw materials, production, and final assembly.