Tec Students Develop System to Turn Speed Bumps Into Power

Four students from Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Mexico City campus have developed a system that turns one of Mexico’s most common urban features—the speed bump—into a source of renewable energy. Their project, FREENERGY, earned second place in the Discovery category of the Xignux Challenge 2025, a competition featuring over 1,200 students and 350 sustainability-focused proposals.

FREENERGY integrates piezoelectric modules into speed bumps made from recycled tires and industrial plastics. Each time a vehicle passes over the bump, the pressure activates the modules to generate electricity. The team estimates that one car can produce 0.98 watts, and in high-traffic areas—such as shopping center entrances or university access points—a single unit could generate up to 47 kilowatts daily, enough to power 200 lightbulbs or 15 security cameras.

“When a car passes, it presses the modules, and that pressure produces the energy,” explained team member Jorge Gómez.

The idea originated years earlier, when team member Jorge Zavala recalled a primary school teacher mentioning that a German acquaintance was surprised by the ubiquity of speed bumps in Mexico. That observation inspired Zavala to consider turning speed bumps into something environmentally valuable.

“Since then, I kept thinking about speed bumps and Mexico’s driving culture. Over time, I shaped the concept into something with sustainable impact,” Zavala said.

With teammates María Ballina and Uriel Castelán, Zavala developed the concept into a functional prototype that combines traffic regulation with clean energy generation.

FREENERGY aims to provide renewable energy while enhancing urban infrastructure through multiple benefits:

• Road safety: maintains the traditional speed-reduction role.

• Energy efficiency: converts constant vehicle flow into usable electricity.

• Self-sufficient infrastructure: powers lighting and surveillance systems independently of the grid.

• Circular economy: uses recycled materials to reduce plastic waste.

Ballina highlighted the regional innovation aspect: “In Japan, similar technology exists in pedestrian crossings. Our design reduces module size, lowering production costs—a key barrier to expanding this technology elsewhere.”

The Xignux Challenge, organized by Tecnológico de Monterrey with Fundación Xignux, is a 24-hour contest encouraging solutions aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda. The FREENERGY team spent an intense day developing their business model and presenting it to judges.

“The competition was unforgettable because we learned to communicate our ideas, work under pressure, and shape a business model. It is an opportunity to grow what we have built and turn it into reality,” Gómez said.

With their prize, the team plans to develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) by year-end, testing actual energy output and attracting investors. They aim to present an enhanced prototype at the next competition in May 2026.

Although they recognize the challenges of shifting urban mobility habits, the students view the project as a practical way to leverage existing infrastructure. “Even though we would like more people to bike or walk, that is difficult in Mexico. The idea is to use what already exists and make an impact,” Gómez explained.