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Discussion (12 Comments)Read Original on HackerNews
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48794704
112 points | 11 days ago | 145 comments
This addresses one of two main failure modes of solar roadways (grippy coating disintegrating from being driven over), but keeps another one (contamination).
Note that this particular trail was right next to a terminus of very lightly used branch, served by well-maintained rolling stock.
Should one install this anywhere with large traffic of older locomotives, panels will quickly get covered in dark goo from oil drip+dust, reducing output dramatically.
At a much lower cost. Those between-the-rails cells have to be far tougher - think about the dynamic mechanical loads they could face in winter, when the RR ran a snowplow down the tracks.