Systems and methods of increasing power converter efficiency are provided. A power converter includes a boost circuit configured to receive a DC input voltage ranging from a minimum input voltage value to a maximum voltage value, boost the DC input voltage to a predefined nominal voltage value when the DC input voltage has a value between the minimum input voltage value and the predefined nominal voltage value, and maintain the DC input voltage when the DC input voltage has a value that is greater than or equal to the predefined nominal voltage value and less than the maximum input voltage value. The unit also includes a DC-DC converter coupled to an output of the boost circuit, the DC-DC converter configured to convert the boosted DC voltage or the maintained DC voltage to a DC output voltage.