OPES Introduces DC/DC Converter Bringing Solar Power into Commercial Vehicle HV Systems

OPES Solar Mobility is presenting the OSM 60/875 MPPT. The device is a galvanically isolated DC/DC converter with integrated MPPT controller, purpose-built to connect vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (VIPV) with the high-voltage electrical architecture of commercial vehicles. It accepts solar input below 60 V and outputs between 200 and 875 V DC. A single unit handles up to 1.5 kWp.

VIPV Meets High-Voltage Architecture

Electrification is changing how commercial vehicles manage onboard power. Battery-electric trucks, buses, and trailers operate at high-voltage levels that conventional low-voltage solar systems cannot feed into directly. The OSM 60/875 MPPT bridges this gap. Refrigerated trailers illustrate the case clearly: electric cooling systems draw power continuously, and demand peaks when ambient temperatures are highest, which is also when solar irradiation is strongest. Onboard solar generation covers this load without diesel auxiliaries and without drawing from the main battery.

“Solar charges the battery while the vehicle is parked or on the road. Like our solar panels, the DC/DC converter has been engineered from the ground up for automotive-grade quality use, so fleets can count on it to generate their own energy reliably,” says Robert Händel, CEO of OPES Solar Mobility.

One Converter Across Vehicle Types

With an output range of 200 to 875 V, the OSM 60/875 MPPT is compatible with the high-voltage architectures used across today’s bus, truck and trailer platforms. A dynamic P&O MPPT algorithm maintains stable energy transfer under the rapidly changing irradiation conditions typical of mobile operation. The converter draws its operating power directly from the PV input and remains inactive without solar energy, preventing unintended battery drain. The IP67-rated enclosure is passively cooled and designed for confined installation spaces such as chassis frames or cooling units. Communication runs via CAN J1939 at 250 kBit/s. OEM-configurable parameters allow integration without additional interface hardware.

Fewer Stages, Lower Total Cost

Integrating solar into HV vehicle systems conventionally requires multiple conversion stages and separate low-voltage battery storage. The OSM 60/875 MPPT replaces this with a single direct PV-to-HV conversion step, reducing wiring effort, installation time, and potential failure points.

“Passive cooling, no moving parts, no maintenance intervals. We need new solutions to make transportation greener and more efficient. Solar power not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also cuts costs.” says Robert Händel.

Depending on installed solar area and use case, vehicles can reduce annual energy costs by up to approximately €6,500. Return on investment of the whole system with solar panels is expected within two to four years.

About OPES Solar Mobility

OPES Solar Mobility is a leading manufacturer of solar solutions for vehicles. The company’s O.Motion solar panels are specially developed for the requirements of the vehicle sector. With its engineering team, OPES supports the integration of photovoltaics in vehicles and offers system-optimized solutions for power electronics – from low voltage to high voltage. From its factory in Germany, the firm equips vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to the automotive industry and enables the integration of solar technology both during production and via retrofits.