EEVblog #850 - French Wattway Solar Roadways BUSTED

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

But a while ago (several years) a test installation was made of some LED versions which reacted to vehicle headlight - I think that the power source was actually solar, not headlights, but they were a good bit brighter than normal cats eyes and very effective.

They all disappeared.

Maybe they were made by the Brusaws and are already past EOL. (3 months)

[grumpydoc]

I suspect grumpdoc is talking about the solar powered "active" cat's eyes that were introduced on some roads which actually had LEDs in them.  Quite an odd driving experience at night on an empty road, it's like something out of Tron.

Indeed, excellent description. 

[sibeen]

[drussell]

Thunderf00t's latest update on data from the Wattway and Solar Freakin Roadways...

[Domagoj T]

Among the solar roads, this thread seems to be the most recently active...

This is about the Colas road in France.
They have released the data for the 1 km road, 420 kW installation, and it doesn't look good.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/09/solar-panels-replaced-tarmac-on-a-motorway-here-are-the-results/

Long story short, ten times the cost per kW installed, one third the output.

[Jef06]

Failure confirmed (how surprising!), The solar panels will be removed by the end of the year...
https://www.20minutes.fr/planete/2570759-20190724
(Please note: article is in French)

[EEVblog]

So many emails and message about this, I'm working on another video...

[nctnico]

So many emails and message about this, I'm working on another video...

This time try to figure out how and where Colas & Solaroad want to make solar roads commercially viable otherwise it will be just another pointless rant video. Youtube already has enough ranters as it is.

[orion242]

where Colas & Solaroad want to make solar roads commercially

Alternate universe clearly.

[wilfred]

<snipped>  otherwise it will be just another pointless rant video. Youtube already has enough ranters as it is.

There is no such thing as a pointless rant video. You just need to be clear about the point. I just did a search on "Thunderfoot roadway" and he's made over a dozen rant videos about this subject. Why?

I'll leave it to you do decide which is more pointless, the roads or the videos.