Solar Roadways - solar panels throughout the roadbed

In the 48 continental states of the United States, there are about 80,939 square kilometers of the roadway — roads, car parks, driveways, playgrounds, bicycle lanes, and sidewalks. If Julie and Scott Bryusou manage to realize their plan, then all these roads can be replaced by solar panels.

For more than half of the last 10 years, a couple from Idaho has been creating a prototype of an industrial panel design that could withstand the weight of even the largest trucks. And so it happened, the scientists managed to create a glass panel that not only withstands incredibly high pressure loads, but also provides a standard level of adhesion for roads. According to the calculations of the inventors, with maximum coverage of the roads with new panels, it will be possible to generate and accumulate three times more electricity than the US currently consumes. And with the help of transmitters mounted in the roadway, the panels can also charge electric cars through a special receiving plate mounted on the bottom of the vehicle.



The project has already received two investment tranches from the US Federal Highway Administration, and last year took part in Google Moonshot. Currently the project is registered under the name Solar Roadways. Now Solar Roadways is hoping to raise $ 1 million for IndieGoGo and move from the prototype stage to production. For three weeks, the project has already collected $ 112'000.
')
Why crowdfunding, but on investment funds? The authors of Solar Roadways answer this question quite simply and even nobly. They want to create jobs in the US, and not to engage in outsourcing and open a factory in another country, which investors will most likely demand. In addition, there is a clear vision of how the company should develop, for example, very high environmental standards, maximum "green" production, the maximum possible use of recycling of used materials, and so on. And this can go against the requirements of investors. Therefore, the company will try to remain as independent as possible. The contract with the Federal Highway Administration ends in July, then the fate of Solar Roadways will be determined, perhaps the campaign money for IndieGoGo will not be enough, and then, of course, you will have to look for investors (by the way, we strongly recommend reading this business literature to everyone who searches) .

Design road design from Solar Roadways: