Author Topic: EEVblog #1233 - The Demise Of Solar Roadways (Read 13260 times)

EEVblog · « **on:** July 31, 2019, 11:51:54 pm »

The inevitable demise of Solar Roadways in France, China, and the Netherlands. But Solar Freak'n Roadways won't go down without a fight!, not that it was ever in the ring, apart from starting this whole boondoggle concept.

coppercone2 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2019, 12:16:45 am »

50% of expected is highly efficient, politicians operate on the PPB efficiently level by default

this is more like a stunning success being downplayed by neurotic engineers. It meets its goals better then most goverment programs.

coppercone2 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2019, 12:20:45 am »

I wonder where they hid the jumper cables to charge it to meet the 50% level though. Undoubtedly there is a rather severely tapped power pole in the region.

coppercone2 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2019, 12:22:45 am »

Segolines power bill is undoubtedly in the six digit range

Deodand2014 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2019, 02:43:46 am »

You are absolutely right about the complete waste of time and resources this thing has been, sadly with the rise of 'If it feels right, it is right' thinking you can expect a lot more things like this in the future.

And it's not as if this was unknown, if you dig through the US Department of Energy website, you can find all the solar power/home energy efficiency work they did in the 1970s under Carter (A lot of this also used to be duplicated at the NASA Technical Reports Server, but was removed following the 2012 'security scare'.) and the one thing you do not see is 'lay the panels flat on the ground'.

As for the medias role in all this, the same thing happens with 'water from air' devices, no matter how many times the inefficiencies are pointed out, the concept just bobs back up like a rubber duck and each time it's a 'new breakthrough' with the previous failures being ignored.

Brumby · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2019, 01:14:43 pm »

Quote from: Deodand2014 on August 01, 2019, 02:43:46 am

As for the medias role in all this....

$imple and predictable. If it can attract attention - and, thus, dollars - it's fair game.

goeiecool9999 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2019, 03:30:14 pm »

Hi there EEVBlog forum. I'd like to link this article relating to the solar bikepath in the Netherlands. Unfortunately it is written in Dutch but google translate seemed to do it's job well on the French articles.
anyways here is is: https://nos.nl/artikel/2010809-zonnefietspad-kan-niet-tegen-de-kou.html
Apparently last winter the surface got so cold that the panels were damaged.
However the company behind these roads did acknowledge it on their twitter and said they took the necessary action to fix it and prevent it from happening again in the future.
Something that I wouldn't see Solar Freaking Roadways doing publicly on their twitter account. Though clearly from the picture posted on twitter in the video that didn't seem to work.

Ahaber · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2019, 04:55:48 pm »

I live about an hour away from Baltimore. Might stop by and see whats up this weekend. Will report with photos if I make it.

Edit: After some digging through instagram posts it would appear the Baltimore installation isn't happening until September will definitely check it out once it's installed.

cFire · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2019, 06:05:29 pm »

I found out that I live a 15 minute drive from one of the newer SolaRoad projects in The Netherlands. (The one in Haarlemmermeer.) So I went to see what kind of condition it's in and take a few pictures. Spoiler alert; It's not doing great.

I've attached one of the photos taken from roughly the same vantage point as the photo they show on their site. You can see the solar panels are currently covered by the kind of heavy steel plates they use to make temporary construction work roads.

You can find the high res and the other photos I took here. Just to be clear, the close-up photos are actually of the solar road. There's so much dirt and sand on there it took me a minute to realize it wasn't just normal concrete.

orion242 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 01, 2019, 07:52:44 pm »

Wow, that site opened in March this year and that's its current state? Another epic fail.

https://www.solaroad.nl/portfolio/

ExtraSmallWhack · « **Reply #10 on:** August 01, 2019, 08:05:48 pm »

Quote from: cFire on August 01, 2019, 06:05:29 pm

You can see the solar panels are currently covered by the kind of heavy steel plates they use to make temporary construction work roads.

That's because it's broken...

The province of Zuid-Holland (Zuid = South) has a few press releases on their website about the SolaRoad (all in Dutch).

March 7th, opening of the bus lane: https://www.zuid-holland.nl/actueel/nieuws/maart-2019/werelds-eerste/
March 15th, a first update: https://www.zuid-holland.nl/actueel/nieuws/maart-2019/update-zonnewegdek/
July 9th, the bus lane pilot is being ended: https://www.zuid-holland.nl/actueel/nieuws/juli-2019/beeindiging-pilot/

So the March 7th one basically had the same information as the press release on the SolaRoad website (as seen in the video).

Then the fun starts, so here are a few translated excerpts from the March 15th one:

Quote

Update pilot solar road surface SolaRoad in the provinces of Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland

On March 7th 2 separate sections of solar road surface, combined 150 meters, have been put into use in the provinces of Noord- and Zuid-Holland. During a regular inspection on March 13th by a road inspector of the province of Zuid-Holland, two damaged areas were noticed on the SolaRoad road surface of the bus lane in Spijkenisse.

There are 2 areas where water has gotten under the transparent top surface, on one of these areas 2 pieces of about 10x10 cm of the top layer have separated from the surface. Because the precise cause of the damage is unknown and because the damage appeared so quickly after opening of the bus lane, the bus lane was closed as a precaution.
...

The same issue occurred on the parallel road to the N232, 1 area has water under the top surface. Pads were put on top of the SolaRoad, so traffic can use the road as usual. [See the pictures by user cFire]

...

The technology used on the SolaRoad has been in development since 2010 in a public-private collaboration and has been successfully tested for four years on a 90 meter cycle path near Krommenie. By now the solar road surfaces have been developed further, so that they can be used on a carriageway.

Then the full press release from July 9th:

Quote

Bus lane SolaRoad pilot being ended

The pilot project of SolaRoad on the bus lane on the N218 near Spijkenisse was started on March 7th 2019. Shortly after the opening a road inspector noticed a few damaged areas of road surface, so section was closed for further investigation. The results of this investigation reveal that repairing the SolaRoad elements is not possible and that it is not useful for the province of Zuid-Holland to continue with the pilot project.

The investigation revealed that the solar panel and the top layer are separating from the underlying concrete. This detachment of the solar panel causes deformation, which under pressure from heavy traffic causes more damage. Because the damage is in the middle of the SolaRoad elements and not within reach, repairs are not possible.

In the pilot project Zuid-Holland has the role of launching customer, which means that the province is only investing in construction and monitoring the the SolaRoad test section on the bus lane. Now that it appears that the SolaRoad elements need further development before a new pilot project can be started, the province has decided to end the pilot project of the SolaRoad bus lane and to repair the bus lane soon.

Goal of the pilot projects

The SolaRoad has been successfully tested during the last 4 years on a cycle path nead Krommenie. The application of the solar road surface on a carriageway is the next logical step. The participation of Zuid-Holland in the SolaRoad pilot had as goal to test the SolaRoad technology for technical and commercial viability, when used by heavy traffic, mostly bus traffic. This is a necessary next step for the technical and commercial development of the SolaRoad technology. Both pilots - a test section was also opened in Noord-Holland for heavy traffic - formed a vital link in developing a dependable solution for producting power, at a low cost and high return.

The province regrets the early ending of the pilot. But on the other hand it is inherit to an innovative, promising technology like SolaRoad that problems arise that have not surfaced earlier. The SolaRoad technology provides opportunities for double space usage by deploying existing roads in a network energy supplying roads. The road surface is then not only used as paving for traffic, but also acts as a solar panel to generate energy. The gained knowledge and information from this pilot are definitely useful for the further development of the SolaRoad technology in the long run.

So it looks like Dave doesn't have to worry about his future income from debunking solar road projects..

thm_w · « **Reply #11 on:** August 01, 2019, 08:20:01 pm »

Resin panels are garbage in terms of reliability (when it comes to water, salt, cold weather, etc.). Are there any commercial solar installations that even use resin panels?
I get why you'd think its better as a road surface, but, glass is much more reliable for solar. So its kind of a lose-lose situation choosing either one.

Quote from: goeiecool9999 on August 01, 2019, 03:30:14 pm

Hi there EEVBlog forum. I'd like to link this article relating to the solar bikepath in the Netherlands. Unfortunately it is written in Dutch but google translate seemed to do it's job well on the French articles.
anyways here is is: https://nos.nl/artikel/2010809-zonnefietspad-kan-niet-tegen-de-kou.html
Apparently last winter the surface got so cold that the panels were damaged.
However the company behind these roads did acknowledge it on their twitter and said they took the necessary action to fix it and prevent it from happening again in the future.
Something that I wouldn't see Solar Freaking Roadways doing publicly on their twitter account. Though clearly from the picture posted on twitter in the video that didn't seem to work.

I see what you are saying, but cold weather is a thing that damages roads and unless some tech has drastically improved, will keep happening. Regular maintenance has to be considered on these things.

EEVblog · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2019, 07:27:04 am »

Quote from: cFire on August 01, 2019, 06:05:29 pm

You can find the high res and the other photos I took here. Just to be clear, the close-up photos are actually of the solar road. There's so much dirt and sand on there it took me a minute to realize it wasn't just normal concrete.

THAT'S the panel?

coppercone2 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 03, 2019, 09:21:21 am »

the prison industrial complex can sweep that for a fee

Whales · « **Reply #14 on:** August 03, 2019, 11:33:53 am »

cFire, those photos are beautiful

Alex26641 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 03, 2019, 08:13:25 pm »

I read the most recent #1234, and this one... I had to laugh out loud... I especially liked the Carl Sagan Quotes.

Jef06 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 03, 2019, 09:47:09 pm »

@EEVblog hold onto your hat... The French "département de l'Orne" (the local administration dealing with roads in the area) has allocated 100k euros to rebuild a new version of the road, 400m long this time, with second generation panels...
Link (in French): https://www.ouest-france.fr/normandie/alencon-61000/route-solaire-l-orne-investit-100-000-eu-dans-la-deuxieme-version-du-projet-de-tourouvre-6424676

james_s · « **Reply #17 on:** August 03, 2019, 10:16:22 pm »

Perhaps if they are going to keep on trying this they should focus on testing a transparent surface that holds up and stays transparent for a reasonable period of time because that is going to be the key to the whole thing working at all.

Mr. Scram · « **Reply #18 on:** August 03, 2019, 10:20:20 pm »

Quote from: coppercone2 on August 03, 2019, 09:21:21 am

the prison industrial complex can sweep that for a fee

Most of the world doesn't have a "prison for profit" industry.

coppercone2 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 04, 2019, 02:45:13 am »

can you just drive a street sweeper on this thing once in a while?

i wanna see that woman driving a sweeper

Damon · « **Reply #20 on:** August 05, 2019, 06:10:35 pm »

Seriously, not a single word on our top-notch German engineering?

Germany got a solar bikeway last winter (November 18):
https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/erftstadt-bei-koeln-deutschlands-erster-solar-radweg-oeffnet-a-1237681.html

SPOILER: The magic smoke escaped

https://www.maz-online.de/Brandenburg/Solmove-Solar-Radweg-in-Erftstadt-nach-Schwelbrand-ausser-Betrieb

By the way, Mr. Müller-Judex has found the solution to vehicles causing damage to solar roads:
Don't drive on them, just park your vehicle on the solar panels. (2nd last paragraph of the first link)

GENIUS!!! If the vehicles don't move, there is no friction or stress to cause damage.
Now we all just need cars made from transparent aluminium and the Sun will shine right through them,
onto the space designated to be covered by parking vehicles...

TassiloH · « **Reply #21 on:** August 06, 2019, 11:14:16 am »

Yep, the magic smoke escaped in April or so. In July it was still closed and covered in black tarp (I guess as kind of an EPO switch

) The latest news article I could find (July 4) says the city is waiting for the company to fix it, but the planned fix must be extensively tested and will then be approved by TÜV before the repair work will start. The city is planning to put up detour signage for the bicyclists...
https://www.rheinische-anzeigenblaetter.de/mein-blatt/werbepost/erftstadt/solarradweg-bleibt-gesperrt-neues-kapitel-in-der-posse-32803092

I should really go there and have a look, it is only a few miles away.

Damon · « **Reply #22 on:** August 07, 2019, 11:36:46 am »

@TassiloH

If you go there, watch out for the energy counter and if it displays anything at all:
https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/rheinland/koeln-rhein-erft-solar-radweg-100.html

TL;DR
The city (apparently in charge to to this) forgot to do the paperwork to connect the bikeway to the grid.
Also some panels "were destroyed by vandals using stones, others were not installed correctly"

So this cycle path caught on fire shortly after it was connected to the grid... Coincidence?
Well, no time to think about that, the guy already has plans to pave LA in solar panels:
https://innovationorigins.com/start-up-of-the-day-solmove-cruising-the-streets-with-the-sun/

Oh, and he wants to wirelessly charge cars, make pedestrian crossings appear when children step onto the road, acquire and process data to control traffic and transmit power between homes with his solar road. BINGO!

f4eru · « **Reply #23 on:** August 08, 2019, 09:03:43 pm »

Guys, you don't understand the reasoning here.
Those experiments are for solar cells manufacturers to do efficient accelerated life testing of their products funded by taxpayers.

Hmm. I funded the french one.

EEVblog · « **Reply #24 on:** September 16, 2019, 05:31:13 am »

Something's afoot at solar roadways!

https://twitter.com/BookSwapSteve/status/1173436952672124930

EEVblog #1233 - The Demise Of Solar Roadways

JustMeHere · « **Reply #25 on:** September 17, 2019, 12:36:26 am »

If they ever did get a solar roadway panel work correctly, how far could the power practically be transmitted?

Fungus · « **Reply #26 on:** September 17, 2019, 02:21:28 pm »

Quote from: JustMeHere on September 17, 2019, 12:36:26 am

If they ever did get a solar roadway panel work correctly, how far could the power practically be transmitted?

That depends on how much secondary electronics you attach to it.

bitwelder · « **Reply #27 on:** September 17, 2019, 03:13:56 pm »

Now they can claim there have been able to increase the efficiency of the installation (as power produced vs consumed)

EEVblog · « **Reply #28 on:** September 18, 2019, 12:30:02 am »

Looks like our mate Scott is taking out the stuff from the panel box, and the hole has been filled with sand.
Doesn't make sense if they are just replacing the panels.

https://twitter.com/BookSwapSteve/status/1174113949178126336

Brumby · « **Reply #29 on:** September 18, 2019, 12:37:16 am »

Quote from: EEVblog on September 18, 2019, 12:30:02 am

Looks like our mate Scott is taking out the stuff from the panel box, and the hole has been filled with sand.
Doesn't make sense if they are just replacing the panels.

https://twitter.com/BookSwapSteve/status/1174113949178126336

Public safety. Filling with sand decreases the trip risk, but sand can be removed very easily. Wait for the area to be paved or concreted for a full surrender.

EEVblog · « **Reply #30 on:** September 20, 2019, 05:04:34 am »

They know we are watching!

nctnico · « **Reply #31 on:** September 20, 2019, 07:14:37 pm »

LOL!
I find it strange though that there is nothing about 'upgrading' the installation on their website. Wouldn't that be worthy of a press release?

Domagoj T · « **Reply #32 on:** September 21, 2019, 05:25:56 pm »

A couple of articles regarding the construction work.
http://sandpointreader.com/solar-roadways-unveils-a-new-model/
https://www.kxly.com/news/solar-roadways-installing-updated-road-panels-in-downtown-
sandpoint/1122907483

Fungus · « **Reply #33 on:** September 22, 2019, 04:26:23 pm »

Quote from: Domagoj T on September 21, 2019, 05:25:56 pm

A couple of articles regarding the construction work.
http://sandpointreader.com/solar-roadways-unveils-a-new-model/
https://www.kxly.com/news/solar-roadways-installing-updated-road-panels-in-downtown-
sandpoint/1122907483

Quote

Three years later, Solar Roadways is updating the demo with its SR4 model, which is designed to produce 50 watts, compared to the previous 36 watts.

Has anybody written to "jstapleton@sandpointidaho.gov" to point out that the previous ones didn't produce any Watts at all?

Domagoj T · « **Reply #34 on:** September 23, 2019, 06:38:41 am »

No longer "Coming soon"?

Anyway, do we have some numbers on how much power those solar panels consumed since they were installed? Those heaters they were running last winter must have gobbled up quite a bit.

daqq · « **Reply #35 on:** September 23, 2019, 07:32:44 am »

Clearly the tiles have been stolen by the Big Coal, or Big Nuclear, or Big Tarmac or something!

EEVblog · « **Reply #36 on:** October 01, 2019, 01:22:12 am »

It's BAAAAACK!

coppice · « **Reply #37 on:** October 01, 2019, 01:28:16 am »

Its back with new more efficient tiles with only half the number of sides.

EEVblog · « **Reply #38 on:** October 01, 2019, 01:32:27 am »

Quote from: coppice on October 01, 2019, 01:28:16 am

Its back with new more efficient tiles with only half the number of sides.

And half of them chopped off

Fungus · « **Reply #39 on:** October 01, 2019, 09:24:29 am »

Quote from: coppice on October 01, 2019, 01:28:16 am

Its back with new more efficient tiles with only half the number of sides.

That's still just a hole. I'm guessing the pattern is for installation purposes (is that where the thick cables go for all the power these things are going to produce?)

Domagoj T · « **Reply #40 on:** October 02, 2019, 08:56:45 pm »

Wouldn't a triangle (compared to hexagon) be a worse shape to be covered with square solar panels?
There are also more individual panels for the same area - more connections to go bad.

Fungus · « **Reply #41 on:** October 02, 2019, 09:20:02 pm »

Quote from: Domagoj T on October 02, 2019, 08:56:45 pm

Wouldn't a triangle (compared to hexagon) be a worse shape to be covered with square solar panels?
There are also more individual panels for the same area - more connections to go bad.

It's almost as if you believe the people paying for this can do basic math.

nctnico · « **Reply #42 on:** October 03, 2019, 11:57:31 pm »

Quote from: Domagoj T on October 02, 2019, 08:56:45 pm

Wouldn't a triangle (compared to hexagon) be a worse shape to be covered with square solar panels?
There are also more individual panels for the same area - more connections to go bad.

More connections yes but what you can't do with square panels is cover an uneven terrain. In that respect choosing for triangles is a good idea.

Bud · « **Reply #43 on:** October 04, 2019, 01:05:22 am »

Which uneven terrain, this is for Roadways FFS. I'd say such pattern is even dangerous in that its weirdness may through some drivers off (mentally) and cause accidents.

Domagoj T · « **Reply #44 on:** October 04, 2019, 07:08:57 am »

Quote from: nctnico on October 03, 2019, 11:57:31 pm

More connections yes but what you can't do with square panels is cover an uneven terrain. In that respect choosing for triangles is a good idea.

While it's true that triangles can cover uneven surface, if all you have is a bunch of equilateral triangles, you can only cover flat surface. For 3D contours, you need all sorts of different triangles.

nctnico · « **Reply #45 on:** October 04, 2019, 05:04:37 pm »

Quote from: Domagoj T on October 04, 2019, 07:08:57 am

Quote from: nctnico on October 03, 2019, 11:57:31 pm
More connections yes but what you can't do with square panels is cover an uneven terrain. In that respect choosing for triangles is a good idea.
While it's true that triangles can cover uneven surface, if all you have is a bunch of equilateral triangles, you can only cover flat surface. For 3D contours, you need all sorts of different triangles.

In theory but if you look at regular pavement you can often find a tile being cut diagonally to cover some uneven bit of terrain. I assume there is some wiggle room between the panels so the spacing isn't critical. Road surfaces are never perfectly flat and may deform over time for various reasons.

orion242 · « **Reply #46 on:** October 08, 2019, 02:21:20 am »

Quote from: EEVblog on October 01, 2019, 01:22:12 am

It's BAAAAACK!

(Attachment Link)

Surly that's just some underlying support. There is a fair drop from the surface of the concrete to whatever that is creating one hell of a trip hazard. Certainly the real deal must not be installed yet.

Seems comical that something designed for foot traffic only (in this application) would need an elaborate support under it vs just sand, stone/stone dust or some other common base material. Paver driveway has far less BS under it.

EEVblog · « **Reply #47 on:** November 08, 2019, 10:17:01 pm »

SR4 panels are in!

Brumby · « **Reply #48 on:** November 09, 2019, 06:51:20 am »

So - will these new ones be able to melt snow?

maginnovision · « **Reply #49 on:** November 09, 2019, 06:59:21 am »

I'm guessing they still only burn money.

Fungus · « **Reply #50 on:** November 09, 2019, 07:03:09 pm »

Quote from: EEVblog on November 08, 2019, 10:17:01 pm

SR4 panels are in!

Maybe we can change the thread title to "rebirth of solar roadways"?

coppice · « **Reply #51 on:** November 09, 2019, 07:11:07 pm »

Quote from: Fungus on November 09, 2019, 07:03:09 pm

Maybe we can change the thread title to "rebirth of solar roadways"?

An then back again next week when the new roadway dies?

Domagoj T · « **Reply #52 on:** November 09, 2019, 07:30:31 pm »

It's a stillborn anyway.

floobydust · « **Reply #53 on:** November 09, 2019, 07:31:51 pm »

At least they're working on improving them, but not sure who is paying for that? We all know the system is plugged-in using grid power

Strange the epoxy reacted with the blue, white, yellow LED's.

james_s · « **Reply #54 on:** November 10, 2019, 05:17:24 am »

Are the yellow LEDs the sort that uses a phosphor? The blue and white LEDs are both blue emitters, so perhaps the intense blue light is affecting the epoxy the same way UV from sunlight breaks down polymers?

Domagoj T · « **Reply #55 on:** November 16, 2019, 09:57:55 pm »

They are up and running. The pattern they are displaying is S, R, 4. Ingenious.

It appears that it's overcast in Sandpoint, but these new and improved LEDs still aren't particularly bright, even from above. Maybe SR5 will be revolutionary.

Brumby · « **Reply #56 on:** November 17, 2019, 03:32:42 am »

I have to give it to them... They keep on pushing - and you kinda hope they will be successful. Shame our current understanding of physics and economics isn't aligned with their aspirations.

If nothing else, they will have put in a lot of effort that will show how well the idea doesn't work - effectively, that is.

EEVblog · « **Reply #57 on:** November 17, 2019, 10:00:07 am »

The Solar Busway Graveyard!

floobydust · « **Reply #58 on:** November 18, 2019, 03:47:06 am »

What was the cause of death?

EEVblog · « **Reply #59 on:** November 18, 2019, 03:55:58 am »

Quote from: floobydust on November 18, 2019, 03:47:06 am

What was the cause of death?

Busses rolling over solar panels

floobydust · « **Reply #60 on:** November 18, 2019, 04:10:40 am »

Quote from: EEVblog on November 18, 2019, 03:55:58 am

Quote from: floobydust on November 18, 2019, 03:47:06 am
What was the cause of death?

Busses rolling over solar panels

In the graveyard, nothing looks busted up or destroyed. It's a very thick concrete substrate, so no flex issues like the other failed roadways. Unless those failed panels are in landfill, not the graveyard. The only other difference is the coating is gravel granules of something that obviously could not compete with a bus tire. Who'd have thought?

Quote from: james_s on November 10, 2019, 05:17:24 am

Are the yellow LEDs the sort that uses a phosphor? The blue and white LEDs are both blue emitters, so perhaps the intense blue light is affecting the epoxy the same way UV from sunlight breaks down polymers?

SR3 looks like they're using Cree XLamp leds, it looked like amber not "yellow" ? The encapsulation caused trouble.
Cree XLamp Chemical compatibility
"Any VOCs present in an SSL system can diffuse into the gas-permeable silicone lens and encapsulants of the LED. Within the molecular structure of these silicone materials, the VOCs will occupy a free space in the interwoven silicone polymer. With subsequent exposure to high photon energy emitted from the LED, along with the heat from the lighting system and the environment, the volatile compounds trapped in the LED's lens or encapsulants can discolor. This discoloration of the trapped VOCs can degrade the light emitted from the LED. This discoloration tends to occur in blue, royal blue and white-light producing LEDs that use blue wavelength LED chips with yellow phosphors for spectrum conversion. This sensitivity to VOCs is not unique to one LED manufacturer but is a known problem for all types of blue, royal blue and white-light LEDs."

nctnico · « **Reply #61 on:** November 18, 2019, 04:13:29 pm »

Quote from: floobydust on November 18, 2019, 03:47:06 am

What was the cause of death?

The segments don't seem to be damaged; it is just that the surface finish didn't stay on the panels. They probably repurpose the Solaroad segments after putting a new surface finish on them but this time likely in lane with lighter traffic first. AFAIK this was the first field test with heavy traffic so chances of problems occuring where high to begin with.

EEVblog · « **Reply #62 on:** December 02, 2019, 05:58:18 am »

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry xmas!

floobydust · « **Reply #63 on:** December 02, 2019, 08:59:16 am »

Uh, they supposedly have a heater in the modules but all I see is a little hole in the snow

Why don't we take it to the next level.
Invent superconducting solar roadways. They must be kept very cold.

Domagoj T · « **Reply #64 on:** December 02, 2019, 09:05:55 pm »

TF says that the lighter area around the panels looks like a dry patch from being heated.
I would offer a different hypothesis - it's salt they spread around in anticipation of the snow, hoping that would melt it.
In any case, it's not working.

Domagoj T · « **Reply #65 on:** January 03, 2020, 08:59:14 am »

And we have a first failure. A bright pixel:


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Author Topic: EEVblog #1233 - The Demise Of Solar Roadways (Read 13260 times)

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