A DC/DC power converter connected to a DC power source having first and second DC terminals. The DC/DC power converter operates in voltage step-up and step-down modes. The converter includes first and second DC buses connected to the first and second DC terminals and third and fourth DC buses defining a DC link. Energy storage devices are connected between the third and fourth buses. A first converter leg includes a first branch with switches and a second branch. Each switch includes a controllable semiconductor switch and an anti-parallel connected freewheeling diode. A controller switches the controllable semiconductor switches between a conducting and non-conducting state, in the step-up and step-down modes, switching to supply power from the DC power source to the DC link in the step-up mode and to supply power from the DC link to the DC power source in the step-down mode.