Access to electricity is a growing concern in our society. Every day, new applications for electricity are being discovered. The installation of above-ground power lines can become cumbersome as an electrical grid grows in capacity. New developments in concrete formulas, however, are allowing some to consider a future where electricity can travel through our roads and sidewalks the same way as power lines.
Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) has recently announced some developments in this area of innovation, discovered through the agency’s Building Envelope and Structure research organization. Usually, a concrete mixture is composed of water, cement and an aggregate such as gravel or sand. The NRC found that adding conductive aggregates, such as the carbon-based graphene, allows concrete to become electrically conductive as well.
This has some interesting implications for the future of concrete use around our country. Imagine sidewalks and roads that can heat themselves during the winter, getting rid of the snow and ice that can cause hazards for travelers of all kinds. Although these systems require a plug-in to current electrical systems, which could create excessive demands on a grid, some believe that alternative energies can be harnessed to develop electricity for direct use in concrete.
Electrically-powered roads could have many benefits for our society in the coming years, especially when considering the growing use of electric vehicles. Electrical currents within a road could power smart traffic systems that improve a driver’s traveling efficiency. With the proper sensors and hardware, developers of this concrete believe that it could even be used to prevent cyber-attacks. With the right industry support and corporate partnership, the NRC believes that cities could start developing and implementing this electric concrete within two years.
Bergen Mobile Concrete is always interested in the cutting edge of concrete and construction technology. If you need concrete services in northern New Jersey, make sure you choose the firm with its finger on the pulse of the industry.
*Image courtesy of Sergey Nivens