Which term describes road surfaces with embedded photovoltaic panels to generate electricity?

• A. Solar roadways
• B. Piezoelectric materials
• C. Inductive charging
• D. DSRC

Answer: (A)

Road surfaces that generate electricity by embedding photovoltaic panels are called solar roadways. The idea is to weave durable solar cells into pavement so sunlight is converted directly into electrical energy that can power nearby lights, signage, or feed back into the grid. Piezoelectric materials, while they can generate electricity from pressure, are mainly used for sensing or small power harvesters and don’t rely on sunlight. Inductive charging is about transferring energy wirelessly to devices or vehicles, not creating power from the road itself. DSRC, or Dedicated Short-Range Communications, is a wireless communication tech for vehicle-infrastructure dialogue, not energy generation. So the term describing the electrical-generating road surface is solar roadways.