Ahh internets, how I have missed you. So much flippin’ AMAZING content, so many crazy beautiful minds all combining and merging, creating, sharing, inspiring, changing the world.
If you haven’t seen the video for Solar Freakin’ Roadways, you need to watch it right now. Not only did it get a chuckle out of your Tiger pal, but the idea behind it is nothing short of sheer brilliance.
The premise is simple – replace all the roads in the world with solar panels. Doesn’t sound very sexy or amazing, but trust me, the video you’re about to watch WILL blow your mind and could potentially change the world.
Check it out:
Hmm… I think I may be a bit late to this party because I just checked out the Indiegogo site that these guys put up and it’s been going since 21 April and has only 11 days left of funding.
They’re trying to raise $1 000 000 and have only raised $269 000 so far.
Christ that’s depressing. What the fuck is wrong with people?!
Having said that, I did find this link: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solar-panel-highway2.htm, it’s a bit old but it does point out some valid drawbacks for Solar Freakin’ Highways.
For starters it’s costly to implement. It would mean tearing up all the roads in the world and replacing them with the hexagonal panels that cost about $7 000 each. Plus you’d have to train crews to maintain them properly.
Then there’s the question of durability. Sure they can withstand one tractor driving over them, but how about 100 20-ton trucks everyday?
Lastly, there’s the problem of solar energy itself. Only 14% of the available energy is converted into electricity. That’s on a sunny day. What about cloudy days in colder climates?
I don’t want to shoot this all down though, I think it’s a killer idea and really hope that they start rolling it out on a small scale to test it’s feasibility like they mention in the video because yeah… I fucking LOVED Tron!
Here’s the Indiegogo link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solar-roadways#home
I’m going to donate $10. I think you should too 
-ST
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