An Idaho company, Solar Roadways, recently unveiled 150 square feet of hexagon-shaped solar panels that people can walk and bicycle on. According to a story by Nicholas Geranios of the Associated Press, the company is in the process of proving the patented panels are strong enough and have enough traction to handle motor vehicles, including semitrailers.

Company owners, Scott and Julie Brusaw, want their product to replace all 48,000 square miles of concrete/asphalt in the U.S. and are the only business receiving federal highway research money to pursue solar road panels.

In strength tests, the half-inch-thick glass panels have been successful and are able to hold 250,000 pounds, three times the legal limit for a semitrailer. Since the glass has a traction surface equivalent to asphalt, vehicles have been able to stop in the required distance during testing.

The hexagonal panels are 31 inches point-to-point, made of tempered glass, and weigh about 70 pounds each. Embedded lights can be programmed to direct traffic or alert drivers to problems. Microprocessors in the panels allow them to communicate with each other, a central control station, and/or vehicles. Heat produced by the panels keeps roadways free of snow and ice, and they are easily replaced if damaged.

Currently used for sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, the company is seeking permission from the federal government to use them in roads. You can find out more and see an array of pictures at the Solar Sidewalks website.