Most people dread their morning commute. You're tired, there's too many other commuters and all you want to do is crawl back into bed. But what if your morning commute produced more than just agitation?
The Dutch know what's up. The world's first solar-powered bike lane will open in the Netherlands Nov. 12, effectively transforming a very green form of transportation into something even more eco-friendly.
SolaRoad is the first road with solar panels, and it will stretch 70 meters, or 230 feet, from the Amsterdam suburbs of Kremmenie to Womerveer. As an average of 2,000 cyclists ride along the two lanes on any given day, the road is expected to produce enough electricity to power three households when it's extended to 100 meters, or roughly 328 feet, in 2016. Not bad for a morning commute.
SolaRoad is the product of efforts by industry, research and governmental institutions. The path is made of rows of crystalline silicon solar cells encased in concrete and with a layer of glass on top. Since the panels are laid flat and can't be adjusted to the changing position of the sun, they are expected to produce 30 percent less energy than solar panels found on roofs.
