每日一翻：Solar Roadways Take Baby Steps

The path to solar roadways is said to be paved with good intentions. But actually it’s going to be paved with modular, concrete-reinforced photovoltaic panels protected by tempered glass.

太阳能公路据说是个很不错的计划。实际上，它是由相互咬合的钢化玻璃面板铺设，面板中嵌有模块化的高强度光伏电池板。

At least that’s the vision that Idaho-based Solar Roadways has had for the past few years. So far they’ve managed to build an 11-meter-long solar parking lot next to the company’s lab.

至少那是Solar Roadway过去这些年的愿景。到目前为止,他们已经设法在公司实验室的旁边建立了一个11米长的太阳能停车场。

Meanwhile, the Dutch are taking a slightly different approach. This week a town in the northern suburbs of Amsterdam officially opened a 70-meter stretch of bike path they claim is the world’s first road to convert sunlight into electricity. They plan to add at least another 25 meters to the SolaRoad project in the next two years.

同时，荷兰人则正在采取一种稍微不同的方法。本周，阿姆斯特丹北部郊区的一个小镇正式开设了一条长达70米的自行车道，他们声称这是世界上第一条把太阳能转化为电能的车道。他们计划在接下来的两年再至少额外增加25米的太阳能公路。

They’re testing the bike path for two things, mainly. Can it generate enough juice to power street lighting, traffic systems, electric cars and households? And will it hold up to the daily wear and tear of cyclists, joggers and baby strollers, not to mention extreme weather and falling objects?

他们测试自行车车道主要有两件事。首先，它产生的电能足够支持路灯、交通系统、电动车和家庭用电吗？其次，它能承受自行车、慢跑的人和婴儿小推车的日常磨损吗？甚至是极端天气和高空坠物呢？

If SolaRoad proves successful in both areas, the Dutch hope to extend the project to turn entire thoroughfares into massive solar panels. Designed by, ya know, road scholars.

如果太阳能公路能应付这两个问题，荷兰希望扩展这个项目，将整个街道都变成巨大的太阳能电池板。

—Larry Greenemeier