Man, I am really getting tired of having to combat these faulty points left-and-right whenever someone says this is a ridiculous idea. The answers to literally all of those problems can be found in either the FAQ.
The only figure that isn't answered there is a bit harder to find; the cost. Solar panel roads at current cost about [url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/05/30/solar-roadways-indiegogo_n_5416811.html]70 dollars per square foot,[/url] which is admittedly more expensive than asphalt at around 15 dollars a square foot, but the price tag is going to go down as they become more prevalent and as they come out of the prototype stage, which they are currently in. It's also nowhere near the ridiculous 3000 dollars a square foot you're proposing. And actually, installation is relatively cheap as currently-existing roads are to be used as the foundation. On top of that, maintenance costs are reduced from one or more days to just a few hours, as maintenance consists of popping a broken panel out and another one in. So both of those are moot.
Thankfully people who don't know anything about engineering aren't running the Federal Highway Administration, (who have contracted these people twice already) aren't distributing the World Technology Award and aren't in charge of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. (Who have given them an award themselves) If they were then all of the potential in this new technology might be lost before it even gets off the ground.
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What about the fact that they can't be directed at the sun? It doesn't seem like these would be saving us much money on electricity within the first few millenia.
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Even though they don't track the sun, the massive ground coverage with them still provides a tremendous amount of power. And, thanks to the relatively simple design of the tiles, they could be quite cost-effective. It certainly wouldn't take "millenia".
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Edited by HurtfulTurkey: 6/2/2014 11:52:36 PM[quote]Solar panel roads at current cost about [url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/05/30/solar-roadways-indiegogo_n_5416811.html]70 dollars per square foot,[/url][/quote] *current estimation with zero cost justification. The reported cost per panel was $7,000, and they're about two square feet, leading to my rough cost per square foot. [quote]installation is relatively cheap[/quote]Yeah, cost estimates for even a generously small amount of road coverage is staggering. [quote]maintenance consists of popping a broken panel out and another one in[/quote]Sure, but that's one hell of an expensive pothole. [quote]Federal Highway Administration, (who have contracted these people twice already) aren't distributing the World Technology Award and aren't in charge of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. (Who have given them an award themselves)[/quote] Oh, a couple awards and a petty grant that gets handed out regularly? Is that why this idea has existed for 8 years and they still need to beg on Indiegogo? It's just nonsense.
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Edited by Le Dustin xddddd: 6/3/2014 7:39:46 PM[quote]The reported cost per panel was $7,000, and they're about two square feet, leading to my rough cost per square foot.[/quote]Technically you should square 7000, not half it. The price is still pretty outrageous anyway. Although who knows how much they may cost in the future.
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The reason they're going to IndieGoGo is because their latest contract with the FHA has run out and they're still in the prototype stage, so they need additional funding to continue development. Also, the fact that you consider these awards insignificant is upsetting to say the least. These are pretty significant accolades. And no, they did not get a grant from the FWHA. They were contracted to work on this project. Twice. As for the cost, the number you're quoting is an old estimate from 2010 when the prototype was still on its first iteration. This is the second iteration of the panel, which doesn't currently have a set cost as they've refused to let out a price until the end of their current contract, (which ends near the end of July) but outside estimates do put it at around 3 times the price of asphalt. It's far removed from the ridiculous 3000 dollars per square foot, which in no way adds up when accounting for the cost of materials and assembly in any way.
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Scoopi-poo, how do you know all of this? I thought you were in the AF?
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Typically I look into things that I care about or have an interest in. Also you thought I was in the Air Force? You sure you're not thinking of someone else? Because I'm pretty sure I'd die immediately upon joining any of the armed forces.
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...What the hell, I was literally 100% certain you were in the Air Force...
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You might be thinking of Jaz or someone. I remember at one point saying that I might consider joining some armed service but that was a long time ago.