Current applications of solar road panels
As mentioned earlier, this technology has been applied to parking lots. In addition, such a solar path has been created, on a very limited scale, in the Netherlands, for bikers. While the path is only 72 feet long, it is still heralded as a significant achievement in this field. The developers believe that in the future, electric cars could be powered directly by the road they travel on.
The company owned by the Bursaws, Solar Roadways, is planning to implement its technology on the famous Route 66, converting a small part of it into a solar roadway. If the project is successful, the scope of the project will be increased.
Conclusion
So is the concept of solar roadways and solar road panels: debunked/busted or a great idea? Considering current technology and its limitation, I would have to go with the former. Right now, solar roadways are just a dream that does not have a significant practical application, considering a cost-benefit analysis of the project. However, I can easily envision a future, possibly only a few years down the road, where the world has figured out how to make this technology more effective and beneficial, and therefore a future where the road is paved with solar panels rather than the traditional asphalt.
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