---
title: "China’s First Solar Highway is Nearly Complete, May Soon Be Able to Charge Electric Cars"
description: "Installing solar panels on highways is not only technically possible, but could also have the benefit of promoting clean transport."
date: "2017-12-22"
modified: "2017-12-22"
authors:
  - name: "Kyree Leary"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kyree.md"
url: "https://futurism.com/chinas-first-solar-highway-complete-soon-charge-electric-cars"
categories:
  - "Energy"
  - "Renewable Energy"
  - "Science & Energy"
  - "Solar Power"
tags:
  - "china"
  - "renewable energy"
  - "solar power"
  - "solar roads"
---

# China’s First Solar Highway is Nearly Complete, May Soon Be Able to Charge Electric Cars

![solar power renewable energy solar roads](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/151028-01_6.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="http://pic.people.com.cn/n1/2017/1214/c1016-29706099-4.html" target="\_blank"\>Electrek\</a\>\</em\>*

## Solar Roadways Are Now Open

Roofs and [windows of buildings](<https://futurism.com/category/climate-change>) aren't the only surfaces that can be used to generate solar power. In China, construction has begun [of the country's first solar highway](<http://pic.people.com.cn/n1/2017/1214/c1016-29706099-4.html>), in which solar panels are placed underneath transparent concrete.

[As reported by ](<https://electrek.co/2017/12/21/china-solar-roadways-transparent-concrete-solar-cells-charge-cars/>)*[Electrek](<https://electrek.co/2017/12/21/china-solar-roadways-transparent-concrete-solar-cells-charge-cars/>)*, the solar highway is a 2 km (1.2 mile) stretch of road located on the Jinan City Expressway, and it's divided into three layers. The see-through concrete shields an array of solar panels of two sizes. Beneath the solar panels is a layer that will keep them isolated from the damp ground. The road itself has already been completed, and now it's only a matter of connecting the grid, which is expected to be finished by the end of the year alongside the completion of the Jinan Expressway's south section.

![Overhead shot of China's solar highway. Image Credit: People's Network](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MAIN201712140837000236521607981.jpg>)
*Overhead shot of China's solar highway. Image Credit: People's Network*

This isn't the first solar road China has worked on. Earlier this year, the Qilu Transportation Development Group — which is also handling the Jinan Expressway solar road — [built a 160 meter (0.09 mile) long solar road in the city of Jinan itself](<http://english.ningbo.gov.cn/art/2017/10/14/art_926_847292.html>). It's capable of heating up to keep the highway clear of snow and ice, and may one day be able to wirelessly charge electric vehicles. The new solar highway is expected to one day be equipped with the same features.

## Solar Roads Around the World

Outside of China, solar roads are nothing new. In 2014, the Netherlands [built a bike path fitted with solar panels](<https://futurism.com/solar-roadway-installed-in-netherlands-works-better-than-anticipated.md>) to generate electricity; a village in the north of France [opened a km (0.62 mile) long solar road in 2016](<https://futurism.com/drive-on-this-france-has-opened-the-worlds-first-solar-road.md>). In the U.S. the Missouri Department of Transportation agreed [to begin testing solar sidewalks](<https://futurism.com/solar-road-tiles-to-be-tested-near-historic-route-66.md>) near Route 66.

Solar roadways may have their critics (they are susceptible to being covered by dirt and other debris), but as their efficiency and applications improve, they're sure to prove their value. And with EVs becoming more popular, the world's going to need more ways to keep their vehicles charged and ready to go.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/KyreeLeary>)

## More

- [Report: The World’s First Solar Road is an Absolute Disaster](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/worlds-first-solar-road-disaster.md>)
- [Solar Road Tiles to Be Tested Near Historic Route 66](<https://futurism.com/solar-road-tiles-to-be-tested-near-historic-route-66.md>)
- [Drive on This: France Has Opened the World’s First Solar Road](<https://futurism.com/drive-on-this-france-has-opened-the-worlds-first-solar-road.md>)
- [Wild Video Shows Entire Mountain Range in China Covered With Solar Panels](<https://futurism.com/china-solar-mountain-video.md>)
- [SolaRoad: World’s First Solar Path Opens In Netherlands](<https://futurism.com/solaroad-worlds-first-solar-path-opens-netherlands.md>)
- [Welcome to the Age of Solar Powered Electric Vehicles](<https://futurism.com/welcome-to-the-age-of-solar-powered-electric-vehicles.md>)
- [China Has Built a Huge Floating Solar Farm on Top of a Deserted Coal Mine](<https://futurism.com/china-built-huge-floating-solar-farm-top-deserted-coal-mine.md>)
- [China is Now the Biggest Producer of Solar Energy in the World](<https://futurism.com/china-is-now-the-biggest-producer-of-solar-energy-in-the-world.md>)