Over the past month or so, an amazing video has been going viral all over the internet. It's by a company called Solar Roadways and they're looking at making solar panels the new roadways to replace pavement.
They are looking at raising $1.5 million for the project that was to end on May 31, but has now been extended to June 20. The company has already received grants of $100,000 and $750,000 from the Department of Transportation, so they do have something that sounds like a good idea. It is a pretty neat looking concept. With solar panels instead of pavement, the roads can charge your electric or hybrid car while it's driving along, so there's no need to stop and recharge. They can also absorb energy from the sun, allowing them to have light up lanes as well as give you warnings about whether there's an accident or delays up ahead. They can also generate heat, allowing them to melt snow and ice faster and cleaner than any plow driver. Solar Roadways claim that the roads can withstand weight up to 250,000 lb. They'll have to borrow a big rig in order to prove that to everyone of course.
Many electircal companies, like GE and Google, claim that the system isn't ready to become effective yet. They think it's best that solar panels stay on roofs and farm lands for now. But that's not stopping them. They plan to keep at pushing the idea forward. Who knows, maybe in the future there will be glowing solar panels for roads instead of hot, sticky pavement. If you haven't seen the video yet, you can view it below.
