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Are there any green alternatives to asphalt in development? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by falkerie71@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Asphalt used on road surfaces are byproducts from fossil fuel. With the ultimate goal of eliminating the use of fossil fuel to combat climate change, are there any good alternatives for road surfaces? I don't think I've ever heard of a viable replacement of asphalt in the works, or even a plan to replace it in any environmental discussions before. At least, not enough for me to notice.

Extented question would be: what are some products derived from fossil fuel that are used in everyday life, but still lack viable alternatives you don't see enough discussions about?

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[–] morgan_423@lemmy.world -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Solar Roadways has been trying to make it work for a while, but I think they will end up being a project better geared for driveways or parking lots or bicycle highways rather than replacing asphalt roads, just based on the enormous amount of issues they've had in the past in trying to shield and protect the lighting elements.

It could still do a lot of good even in the more limited applications, though, so I'm still hoping for their eventual success, even if it ends up being on a smaller scale than what their initial goal was.

[–] A_Chilean_Cyborg@feddit.cl 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Wasn't that just a scam?

[–] dan@upvote.au 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah EEVBlog has a video explaining why solar roadways won't work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obS6TUVSZds

And a bunch of other videos about solar roadway projects:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ngWjH0jdRo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM50P4K9UVk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmYVyp_gB_o

[–] morgan_423@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, it's been through serious development, with several projects and grants through the US government (US DoT/FHA, US DoE). But in all testing, it's had multiple safety issues for car traffic (durability issues with the lighting elements that make up the road markings, for one example) that has kept it from any possible approval as an actual high-capacity road surface.

They haven't had any sustained or spreading success because they keep shooting for the hardest goal... but likely they'll have to eventually scale back if they want to gain any traction (no pun intended).

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

It's also a stupid place to put solar panels. Just put them alongside the road.