By Holly Richmond (Grist.org), May 10th 2014. Reposted from Popular Resistance
Solar Roadways’ panels have heating elements to melt snow and ice, five-color LED lighting to create road lines, and corridors for moving and storing stormwater. The surface is made out of textured glass, which sounds pretty fragile, but apparently the panels can withstand 250,000 pounds.
The prototype shows dark blue solar cells on a green background; roughly 30 percent of the space is wasted. But in their Indiegogo campaign, Scott Brusaw says they’ve figured out a way to cover the entire hexagon with solar panels. Plus, each hexagon has a microprocessor — the makings of a smart road — and built-in power means overhead power lines aren’t necessary. Read Full Article
