China's Cutting-edge Solar Motorway

[Vlad Kovalenko + 115]

By the end of this year China will have two kilometer long highway formed with solar panels and it could charge electric cars while driving on it. This highway will also be connected to the power grid to provide electricity to the city. 

[Selva + 252]

What does it mean it could charge EVs while driving? Is two kilometers long highway enough to charge an electric car? 

[Adam Varga + 123]

If a rapid charger at motorway service station can charge electric car to full in about 30 minutes then probably these two kilometers won't be enough to charge your car. But knowing China these two kilometers are just the beginning of much longer highway. 

 

[Rodent + 1,424]

hehe. I think the 2km is just like a test-strip. It looks pretty funky. France did the same too, last year. THey have just a small stretch of road

 

[Vlad Kovalenko + 115]

France did it for powering street lighting. Nothing about charging electric vehicles. 

 

[Selva + 252]

Netherlands, land of bikes, built the first solar bike path three years ago.

[Rodent + 1,424]

22 minutes ago, Vlad Kovalenko said:

France did it for powering street lighting. Nothing about charging electric vehicles. 

 

Oh, whoops! Thanks for the correction.

[Selva + 252]

Although solar road sounds pretty attractive but it has unattractive side. This road costs about $458 per square meter regarding to $5 per square meter of asphalt road which makes this project pretty non cost effective. 

[Adam Varga + 123]

What concern me is a safety of these roads. Solar roads mean like you're driving on transparent surfaces, which reduces the amount of gravel and rocks needed for friction. And that means you can't stop your car safely. What would happen if there is rain or snow on this road? 

[LAOIL + 33]

Any plans for such in the US?

[Vlad Kovalenko + 115]

One solar road was installed in Idaho and soon got a name a "total and epic failure". That pretty much says how successful it was. 

[Adam Varga + 123]

That was a very expensive and long project for such a fiasco. $4 million in 6.5 years and  25 out of the 30 solar panels malfunction within the first week. Unsuccessful is the least we could say for this project. 

[Selva + 252]

I've read something about it. It was a  husband and wife company  from Idaho behind this project. They also planned to make a section of Route 66 near a rest stop in Conway, Missouri  into America's first solar road. 

[Vlad Kovalenko + 115]

Now I'm lost. Who had solar road first? Idaho or Missouri? Does any of them got one at all? 

[Adam Varga + 123]

Bad beginning for China's solar highway. It has been vandalized and sensitive parts have been stolen. And it all happened just five days after its opening. Damage cost more than $1,540.