Aunt-in-law sent me this video about Solar Highways.
I think that’s pretty cool, with a lot of potential. Not just that it provides us with a non-asphalt-based roadway solution, not that it provides a means to generate power, but the LED’s and what that can enable.
Of course, there appear to be lots of practical issues to have to work out, not just structural and environmental, but geez… that’s a lot of wire to have to lay down… do we have that amount of copper available? How about maintenance over 10-20-50 years?
Nevertheless, it seems to be some innovative thinking, and even if it doesn’t pan out, it’s great to see such ideas.
Stuff From Hsoi 
What an interesting concept. Seems the cost would be a prohibiting factor, but integrating power lines and internet lines may subsidize some of it. I’m no engineer, but can glass (or any other material) offer traction similar to asphalt and still be transparent enough to power the photovoltaics?
I do wonder about cost, but one of the things they touted in there was how it could pay for itself. Of course, can it pay for itself within a reasonable time? 50 years to pay it off but only a serviceable lifespan of 10 years isn’t going to work.
As for traction well… the video implied they were aware of that issue. Oh hey, I just found their website with FAQ:
http://solarroadways.com/
it’s not the best website, but poke around and you’ll find: http://solarroadways.com/faq.shtml which answered a bunch of questions, including the traction one.
Don’t know how practical this is, but geez… it seems really cool. And I like their realistic approach to roll it out: start from the manufacturing plant, tile the parking lot, take the plant off-grid, then roll on from there.