Solar-Powered Bicycles: Innovation Meets Utility

The Marseille-based greentech startup Optipus PV and French bike brand Origin Cycle have unveiled a first-of-its-kind prototype: an urban bike integrated with organic photovoltaic (OPV) strips that recharge devices on the go. It’s the first real-world application of Optipus’s “Energy Skin” technology.

OPV: Stylish, Flexible, Solar

Optipus’s OPV films are built on polymer-coated PET, making them ultralight, flexible, recyclable, and available in custom colors. Unlike inflexible silicon panels, these films seamlessly integrate with everyday objects—in this case, a bicycle—harvesting solar energy without compromising design.

A Seamless Integration

Origin Cycle embedded these strips into the bike frame, enabling riders to recharge smartphones, GPS units, LED lights, and USB chargers while traveling. The result? Solar-powered mobility without added weight or bulky equipment.

User & Brand Benefits

• Convenience: never run out of battery mid-ride.

• Premium design: no aesthetic compromises, thanks to customizable visuals.

• Sustainable mobility: quiet, clean travel.

• Innovation appeal: strengthens brand image in eco-conscious markets.

Broader Implications

This breakthrough paves the way for OPV across wearables, urban transport, and IoT—embedding solar energy in everyday life. The collaboration highlights OPV’s potential to support sustainability, transparency, and user engagement.

Opportunity for DT Master Carbon:

We view projects like Optipus PV × Origin Cycle as game-changers—proof that renewable energy is deployable, sleek, and functional in everyday applications. We follow these trends to help clients map new energy usage risks, assess sustainability innovations, and communicate leadership in green tech.

Contact us to co-develop your roadmap.