http://www.consciousmedianetwork.com/video/2010/061810.htm
talk about outttathebox thinking...
http://solarroadways.com/faq.shtml
one of many reasons (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb1ohS8buws) to feel hopeful (http://www.yert.com/film.php#synopsis).
Interesting thought. Lots of questions, of course. Can they really make self-cleaning hardened glass with enough roughness to be as grippy as ashphalt that still lets through enough sunshine to create electricity? Can they really guarantee that people won't be driving and walking onto a high-power-electrified panel, getting zapped and killed in the process? Their numbers are based on four hours of sunshine a day - have they ever been up north in the dead of winter?
Yes, we know how well Ultra durable enhanced glass has worked out for Apple and the iPhone 4.
Considering how much heat some road surfaces are capable of absorbing I'm surprised that a thermal energy option hasn't been considered.