Solar Roadways

[top]

This needs to happen.


http://www.wimp.com/everythingsolar/

[Afrobean]

This a great idea for a new infrastructure.

However, it would be an ENORMOUS cost to change the infrastructure over. It would save money in the long run, but no one wants to invest untold billions of government dollars... unless it's being used to kill brown people. Not even joking.

[top]

exactly, that's the ONLY issue. cost. but it's not like the government is giving 2 shits about money in the first place

oh oh but if we coaxed them into it like....

"if you do this all over the world you can do your usual paranoid gotta spy on everybody because 'better safe than sorry '"

[bmah]

I would think this technology's success is regionally dependent. Like electric gas-saving cars, this sort of technology benefits the typical Arizonan as opposed to those at higher latitudes or cloudy weather. So no, I doubt installation/maintenance costs are the sole issue.

[top]

well obviously. just like the more rural you go the more gravel roads you see. a big difference is that this includes benefits

[kommisar]

high startup cost


efficient payout in the future


nobody wants that!!! money nowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[bmah]

And yet those rural people will probably have to contribute the same high tax dollars as those who live in cities that do have these solar roadways installed. I think there could be a lot of contention with that. It's a technology that has a narrow scope/focus.

It's a progressive idea that I love in theory (I hate driving in slick conditions), but certainly needs refinement.

[choof]

solar *anything here* will never be the norm because of how much money is made by oil exports

[top]

it sickens me that money holds so much power

[Xiz]

I'm surprised this is going viral now, instead of like 2-3 years ago lol

[Afrobean]

Originally Posted by bmah

I would think this technology's success is regionally dependent. Like electric gas-saving cars, this sort of technology benefits the typical Arizonan as opposed to those at higher latitudes or cloudy weather. So no, I doubt installation/maintenance costs are the sole issue.

I don't think you understand how solar energy works. It's REALLY effective in Arizona, but it still works in cloudy regions. It just would only cover MOST or ALL of the energy requirements rather than WAY MORE than could ever be necessary.

The video says that if every road was changed into this, it would generate 3x more electricity than we use.

Rural people use electricity too though. They'd pay tax dollars, and they'd get the same "free" electricity along with new modular roads as well. Even dirt roads could be converted to this so as to generate more electricity which could then be exported to other regions for a profit even.

[top]

tbh i think the whole "money" cop-out is bullshit considering trillions in debt etc.

[igotrhythm]

I was polled recently regarding voter initiatives in Michigan.

I got the guy to write this in.

[bmah]

Originally Posted by Afrobean

I don't think you understand how solar energy works. It's REALLY effective in Arizona, but it still works in cloudy regions. It just would only cover MOST or ALL of the energy requirements rather than WAY MORE than could ever be necessary.

You're right I'm not overly informed, but how much of the energy production has been tested as opposed to being theoretical? I'm curious. Is it -that- convincing?

[Zageron]

Ya'll know it's a thing right?

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solar-roadways

[r]

There's also the problem that roads are dirty. Skid marks and what not and where's your solar roadway now?

[Afrobean]

Originally Posted by r

There's also the problem that roads are dirty. Skid marks and what not and where's your solar roadway now?

still producing more electricity than the current roadways?

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by Afrobean

still producing more electricity than the current roadways?

and costing a million times more than current roadways.

[choof]

Originally Posted by top

tbh i think the whole "money" cop-out is bullshit considering trillions in debt etc.

lol

[hi19hi19]

I think we're confusing "producing some benefit" for "benefit that's actually worth the astronomical initial investment and high maintenance costs"