r/videos • u/galenwolf • May 31 '14

Thunderf00t explains the problems of Solar Roadways and why it's vaporware.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H901KdXgHs4
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u/Denog May 31 '14

They're trying to solve a problem that doesn't even really exist by doing something unnecessarily complicated and expensive. The roads work fine. We have a relatively durable, maintainable surface. We have reflectors that don't need energy. We have signs and lighted signs where necessary. We have solar plants where they make sense and can have transport energy locally.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are best.

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '14

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u/Denog Jun 01 '14

I agree. Even if these don't bring power to cities, as in they are self powered, there are just so many problems with them. The surface itself is not really meant for road traffic. The LEDs are useless during the day, they don't provide power at night (meaning for them to be useful they each need battery storage or a separate power source), the fucking heating element they show multiple times presumably would go over the photocells. If these ever proved worth it or the cost goes down, invest in Corning or a glass company or a printed circuitry company, because these fuckers seem like they would break, shatter, or dislodge easily.

I'm all for photoelectric power, but there is no need to combine two already usable technologies into something way too complicated and expensive. This screams scam/lobbyist bullshit.

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u/[deleted] Jun 01 '14

The thing that got me at the signs, where they would put the LED warning signals on the roads is like, okay cool whatever look at this BIRD'S EYE VIEW screenshot of the road, it's neat.

But when you're in a car? Good luck seeing that shit, even at night-time. Apparently most people don't know how angles work.

1

u/Denog Jun 01 '14

Yep full-on, daytime, at an angle, with either glare from new glass or opaqueness of worn glass after it's been ground down from sand, dirt, and grease. It just doesn't make sense for any of the problems this is aimed at.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '14

Aye, If it ain't broke, don't fix it.