The project OPEVA aims for innovation on aggregating information from the vehicle, not only from the battery but also from other internal sensors and behaviours, to create a model of performance and consumption specific to the individual vehicle and its driver (TD1). It aims to optimize the individual driving episode using the out-vehicle data such as state of the road, weather, charging station location and occupancy etc. that are collated from the back-end systems (TD2). OPEVA will further address the challenges associated with the communication between the vehicle and the infrastructure to gather data from the back-end systems (TD3). It aims for innovation in the use of recharging stations and related applications (TD4). It further aims to achieve better understanding on what the battery and its constituent cells are really doing during real world use for an improved battery management system (TD5). Finally, TD6 covers the driver-oriented human factors for optimizing the electrical vehicle usage. The TDs from the most deeply embedded in the vehicle to its support in the cloud, which need to interwork in an optimal fashion to deliver in one decade a better level of systemic optimisation for personal mobility that took ten decades to achieve with fossil fuels. On the other hand, economic factors (N-TD1), legal and ethical aspects (N-TD2), EV related development by the human (N-TD3), and societal and environmental factors (N-TD4) will be taken into consideration in the OPEVA methods for a higher acceptance and the awareness of the society regarding the these developments.

SUN-TRANS is a multi-partner, Europe-wide initiative designed to transform urban and commercial fleets by integrating Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV), high-efficiency power electronics, and AI-driven fleet orchestration into electric buses and last-mile delivery vehicles. Heavy-duty vehicles and vans account for a disproportionate share of transport emissions—up to 39%—despite numbering far fewer than passenger cars. SUN-TRANS addresses this gap by developing semi-transparent, curved, and colored VIPV modules, designed for both e-bus rooftops and last-mile EVs, backed by advanced encapsulation materials that endure vibration, UV, and harsh climates. These modules pair with multiport, wide-bandgap power converters, ensuring over 98% efficiency under real-world shading and load variations. Partners will demonstrate integrated solutions in three distinct pilot sites—Izmir (Türkiye), Alba Iulia (Romania), and Bilbao (Spain)—covering diverse climates and operational demands. Through an AI-driven platform built on Siemens’s DepotFinity and EnergyIP, SUN-TRANS coordinates real-time solar charging, route optimization, and grid services like peak shaving and demand response, slashing operational costs by up to 30%. By merging cutting-edge technology with streamlined manufacturing (BOZ, MUSO), the project aims to scale VIPV adoption, lowering cycle-time overhead below 5% and meeting UNECE automotive standards for safety and reliability. Life-cycle assessments (AMBI) confirm eco-efficiency and social acceptance, while municipalities (Izmir, Alba Iulia) and Bizkaigar (Bilbao) validate real-world performance. Ultimately, SUN-TRANS delivers replicable business models (R2M) for public transport and last-mile operators, catalyzing investor interest via robust ROI data and strategic financing pathways. In doing so, SUN-TRANS advances Europe’s transition to low-carbon mobility, unlocking solar’s untapped potential in bus depots and delivery fleets