EEVblog 1738 - Solar Freakin' Roadways NEW FUNDING!

[EEVblog]

The moose is back!

[golden_labels]

Just wait twenty more years. The technology progresses so much that they’ll deliver.

If you think that at some point funding from investors and authorities dries out, leaving them penniless, don’t worry. If we don’t know, how a company doing nothing is meant to make profit, let’s start with the usual suspects. The first guess is correct: US patents 8907202 and D712822.


The fragment with Thunderf00t reminds me of the sad reality. Solar Roadways is healthy and strong, continuing their endeavors. Thunderf00t got devoured by his anti-Musk psychosis.

[malavon]

I already knew I didn't live in the real world. I don't know what "reality" this actually is, but some guesses include:
* a magical "reality" designed to cause me endless despair
* hell, or at best purgatory after being murdered
* an AI-overlord-dominated reality trained on The Onion content

No one can convince me otherwise anymore. YMMV

[glx]

I'm even getting Instsgram ads for the solar freaking railway 😬

[Fryguy]

Un-f*****-believable , i give up - unlimited stupidity wins ! Please shoot me . . .

[EEVblog]

Just wait twenty more years. The technology progresses so much that they’ll deliver.

No matter how much the technology progresses, it will never, ever, be as cost effective as just putting solar panels on roofs, or over car parks.

[golden_labels]

Of that I am certain. Progress can’t change maths. So far basic geometry holds since the ancient times.

But in 2026 they don’t only place the solar panels in a silly spot. They face technological challenges that make their promises a complete nonsense. What I meant with the comment is that in 20 years Solar Roadways may at least hope to overcome that latter part.

Of course it’s going to remain a bad idea.

[hans]

I still can't figure out what the purpose of Solar Roadways is.
Of course, road environment vs roof => roof wins always.

But even if we assume they do believe they are making the world better with diversifying application areas where renewable energy can be installed. What message are their marketing photos conveying? Diamond tiles. RGB lighting everywhere.

Look even their "/product/product/" page shows their SOLAR energy generation apparatus in the dark: https://solarroadways.com/product/product/
of course with RGB in US colours (also Dutch, btw)

And the "/product/" page just shows perfectly how a diamond tile cannot fill a rectangular box: https://solarroadways.com/product/

Where is the renewable energy motive in all of this?
Or are RGB diamond road tiles just the grown-up version of a colouring book: https://solarroadways.com/product/coloring-book/

[kripton2035]

I still can't figure out what the purpose of Solar Roadways is.

pump public money !

[golden_labels]

I still can't figure out what the purpose of Solar Roadways is.

“I have an idea, now let’s find the problem.”

[jonovid]

sun worship is not new. &  when there is funding to pay fot it. its a business
regardless of the stupidity of the idea. like selling real estate on the moon.

[EEVblog]

I still can't figure out what the purpose of Solar Roadways is.

“I have an idea, now let’s find the problem.”

Or often "I've found the government funding, let's find the idea."