Post by Optimus on Mar 14, 2017 9:45:03 GMT -5
I recall about a year or two ago a bunch of media sites were all jumping aboard the hype train of "solar roads." I also recall reading one or two comments from, you know, actual scientists and engineers who were skeptical (to say the least) about the potential of solar paneled roads. Of course, you can't derail a good hype train once it starts rolling, so the ratio of "Solar roads are the future and you support Big Oil if you don't agree!" articles to skeptical articles was about eleventy billion to one.
Fast forward to now and...
All of that time, money, and hype (including another half a million $ just to install) wasted on a bullshit project that would've only generated enough electricity to power a few lights and a water fountain (that's not an exaggeration. See article).
This is why skepticism is an important quality that should be promoted and valued rather than mocked and discouraged.
principia-scientific.org/americas-first-solar-roadway-total-disaster/
Fast forward to now and...
The prototype has a long history of disastrous technical issues. Roughly 25 out of 30 panels installed on it broke within a week after developers pumped $3.9 million into it over 6.5 years of development.
Despite massive internet hype, the prototype of solar “road” can’t be driven on, hasn’t generated any electricity and 75 percent of the panels were broken before they were even installed.
Of the panels installed to make a “solar footpath,” 18 of the 30 were dead on arrival due to a manufacturing failure. Rain caused another four panels to fail, and only five panels were functioning shortly thereafter. The prototype appears to be plagued by drainage issues, poor manufacturing controls and fundamental design flaws.
Every single promise made about the prototype seems to have fallen flat and the project appears to be a “total and epic failure,” according to an electrical engineer.
Despite massive internet hype, the prototype of solar “road” can’t be driven on, hasn’t generated any electricity and 75 percent of the panels were broken before they were even installed.
Of the panels installed to make a “solar footpath,” 18 of the 30 were dead on arrival due to a manufacturing failure. Rain caused another four panels to fail, and only five panels were functioning shortly thereafter. The prototype appears to be plagued by drainage issues, poor manufacturing controls and fundamental design flaws.
Every single promise made about the prototype seems to have fallen flat and the project appears to be a “total and epic failure,” according to an electrical engineer.
All of that time, money, and hype (including another half a million $ just to install) wasted on a bullshit project that would've only generated enough electricity to power a few lights and a water fountain (that's not an exaggeration. See article).
This is why skepticism is an important quality that should be promoted and valued rather than mocked and discouraged.
principia-scientific.org/americas-first-solar-roadway-total-disaster/
