Comments on: Electricity-Generating Roadways

By: Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:22:10 +0000

I like this:

"Innowattech estimation shows a potential of about hundreds till thousand kilowatts per hour."

What the hell units are "kilowatts per hour"?

Whoever wrote this (or translated it) doesn't have a clue what he wrote about.

By: abc

abc — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:56:04 +0000

from Innowattech's site: "The generators are placed under the upper asphalt layer. The generators possess the same elasticity as the asphalt, and therefore, provide the same resistance to the wheels as asphalt".
Looks like a nice solution!

By: DJDJ

DJDJ — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:45:47 +0000

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

The energy output from the system comes from somewhere. Now, just where does it come from, you ask? Well, you should ask.

If it generates electrical energy from the kinetic energy of passing cars, then it reduces the kinetic energy of those passing cars in the process, which means they slow down. So, those passing cars burn must burn fuel at a higher rate to keep from slowing down. Make no mistake about it; the source of energy is the fuel in the tanks of those passing cars.

This is not a "clean green source of energy", it is simply a very poor way of converting gasoline and diesel fuel into electrical energy. It obeys the laws of physics. Deal with it.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:14:07 +0000

ElectricIty - I can spel. Really I kan.

By: Chakolate

Chakolate — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:43:05 +0000

This might make sense for a sidewalk, but any such thing put on the roadway will decrease gas mileage, for zero net gain.

By: Gauldar

Gauldar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:55:08 +0000

I heard of this project on the radio, thanks for the link!

By: liphttam1

liphttam1 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:48:39 +0000

Ive heard of theese. They were in popular science but they were sidewalks.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:23:56 +0000

You ever see a word, and it just doesn't look right, but instead of thinking it might be spelled wrong, you just second-guess yourself? Well that's what happened to me with the title of this post.

By: DOJ

DOJ — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:13:53 +0000

Solar or wind power is no good because it's not always sunny/windy, but luckily it's always rush hour.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:27:26 +0000

They should not be worrying about how to generate electricity from the roads until they figure out how to keep the potholes filled!