low us to build a highway first; rather, they want us to take it to parking lots first to perfect the technology, and this makes sense,” says Scott. “Once we prove it works in a parking-lot setting, the next logical step is to take it to residential streets where the traffic is slowmoving,” says Scott. Highways are realistically the last step in the entire development and implementation process, but that is where the vision is leading. How far down the road the next steps – even the residential streets – are remains to be seen, but Scott and Julie are optimistic. “Realistically, if this two-year research project went perfectly, we could be ready for manufacturing in two years,” says Scott. “Most likely, though, we will find some issues that need to be addressed and this will lead to a Phase 3 research project.” Even without federal funding, there is significant interest in seeing this project move forward. “In fact, [investors] are already knocking at the door. We have about 3,000 emails from potential investors, but we are trying to avoid going public,” says Scott. Imagine you are behind the wheel of your big rig driving on those 440 panels per mile of glass road. There are a number of questions that come to mind, not the least of which is whether this glass road can withstand the weight of the loaded rig. Re-
member, though, this isn’t your typical window-pane glass. There are varying types of glass, from thin and flexible to bulletproof.
Each panel has a microprocessor and that is a communication device. Dispatchers could have a map showing where all trucks are at all times. “There are a lot of things you can do with glass,” says Scott. “Our goal is for our panels to withstand 250,000 pounds and our glass guy estimates that a 3/4-inch sheet will hold 160,000 pounds.” The glass is a tempered treated glass that withstands cracking and chipping. At an advanced loading facility, a giant truck tire with weights on top of it was used to simulate a truck driving across the panels. “The hardness of the glass falls between steel and stainless steel and truck tires wear out well before the surface of glass,” says Scott. Another common question is related to traction. The glass being developed for this
Enrique’s a seasoned vet. Tristan’s earning his stripes.
project is a textured glass designed to prevent slippage. “This does diminish the solar efficiency, but we are looking at how to make a prism pattern work so that when light comes in it will bend it down and make it more efficient.” Another question that comes to mind is related to natural disasters. How do the panels hold up in floods, earthquakes and other such occurrences? With flooding, the panels are hermetically sealed, so they should remain waterproof. “They won’t be destroyed or short out,” says Scott. And, they are anchored well enough that they won’t move. During an earthquake, the roadway would likely see damage similar to that of any highway. But power would not be lost throughout the highway system – only the damaged panels would stop producing. Each panel generates power essentially independently of the others. There are some very real potential benefits if development continues as it is expected to. Early on in the initial research Scott and Julie began looking at other features that would work well with a glass road. They already generate power, so why not add LEDs to the road? LEDs could provide traffic information, light the current painted stripes, warn of dangers and more. The glass panels could also be kept at an optimal temperature, which would keep
Both have spent their careers driving for us.
Enrique and Tristan. They’re different people, but they’ve got one thing in common: they’re both True to Blue. They have something else in common: they were both looking for a place to work that felt like home. Everyone says “we treat our drivers like family,” but at Con-way Truckload it’s more than just talk. We mean it. It’s one of the many ways we’ve earned one of the highest driver retention rates in the industry. Watch their stories and find out why they stay True to Blue at www.true2blue.com/cm or call 866-787-7845.
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