Route 66, well known in Missouri, is set to undergo a change thanks to Solar Roadways, as a section of solar road will be included using solar panels. These solar panels will generate renewable energy with integrated LEDs. Likewise, the US Department of Transportation and Tom Blar will closely monitor the testing phase to be carried out on the Georgia highway test. Along the same lines of smart roads, Tesla’s failed Texas-California project should be kept in mind. Read on for the latest details.
Revitalization of determined parts of the road
A recent project is about to modify a small portion of the iconic Route 66, but only a small portion of it. It traverse across the whole United States, has been the sense of why many drivers take some time off and just hit the road, with no final destination in mind. Projects for the revitalization of some parts of the road and the investment to make it a strong tourist destination have occured throughout the years, but currently it will shift everything with the new solar technology that is about to arrive to Missouri.
The Route 66 impact
The Route 66 has been a reference since the moment it was created. The classic freeway, spanning over 2,400 miles, has been the inspiration for so many movies. One of them portrayed the idea of new highways coming up to substitute the old path, and quickly turned a fan favorite: Cars. The concept of a small town being left out on the map because of the modernization got the audience’s attention, but it didn’t do much for the road itself.
Currentlyw, as technological progresses are occuring at a fast pace, the requirement to adapt the classic expressway will also take place shortly. Repairs must be done, and the capacity to coexist and be useful to drivers on a daily basis is one of the most relevant subjects for Solar Roadways, the company that wants to modify a small portion of the Route 66 in Idaho and add its new technology.
Road technology coming in Missouri
A company named Solar Roadways, based in Idaho, has been working on solar-powered panels that can be used to take the place of regular pavement. These panels collect sunlight, and the energy they create can be sent back to the grid. They are also pictured to light up using built-in LEDs, which could replace painted lines, and even melt ice during the winter thanks to a heating system inside.
The previous year, the company began testing the project with the state of Missouri. Their first move was to install the panels at a welcome center in Conway. It’s a small pilot project, but if it works pretty good, the plan is to expand and at some point install the tech on Missouri’s section of Route 66.
Europe tested the technology before
The idea sounds futuristic, but it’s not completely a innovatice concept. In France, a alike project used solar panels to cover part of the freeway, and the results were mixed. It cost millions, and they’re still examining how well it holds up over time.
Back in the U.S., the company has already received funding from the Department of Transportation and support from thousands of backers online. They’re also thinking ahead:
their panels could be used in parking lots to power charging stations for electric vehicles. In the future, the company believes drivers might even be able to charge their cars while driving on these solar streets.
Missouri’s Department of Transportation is open to the idea.
“If this works, roads might actually start paying for themselves,” said Tom Blair, one of the engineers involved in the project.
Georgia is also testing a diverse version of solar panels on one of its highways — so the race to bring power to the pavement is just getting started, and both can turn into a role model to others.
Tesla also wanted to create a new highway in the U.S.
Tesla had plans to install thousands of charging stations all along Texas and California — two states where the company already has a strong presence. However, the project required funding, and after several rounds of conversations, it didn’t get government approval. By the time other charging projects in Texas moved forward, Tesla’s never did. This was one of the reasons why the company ended up cutting its Supercharger team — along with a few others.
