A control device is capable of executing: an ignition time calculation process of calculating a target ignition time of an ignition plug; a stop process of stopping combustion control for some cylinders of a plurality of cylinders; and a compensation process of controlling a motor generator during the stop process, such that the motor generator compensates a drive power that is lost due to the stop of the combustion control. The control device prohibits the execution of the stop process when the target ignition time calculated in the ignition time calculation process is on a retard side of a predetermined prescribed time.

Methods and systems are provided for regenerating an after-treatment system of a vehicle. A first operational parameter of a first component of the after-treatment system is monitored and a second operational parameter, different to the first operational parameter, of a second component of the after-treatment system is monitored. It is determined if the first operational parameter of the first component is outside a first threshold range and if the second operational parameter is approaching a second threshold and, in response to the first operational parameter being outside the first threshold range and the second operational parameter being within the second threshold range, a regeneration sequence of the after-treatment system configured to regenerate at least the first component of the after-treatment system is initiated.

A catalyst control system includes a stop and start module that, during a period that the vehicle is ON between (i) a first time when the vehicle is turned ON and (i) a second time when the vehicle is next turned OFF, selectively shuts down and starts a spark ignition engine of the vehicle. A catalyst light off (CLO) control module initiates a first CLO event for a first engine startup during the period and, when a temperature of a catalyst that receives exhaust output by the engine is less than a predetermined temperature, selectively initiates a second CLO event for a second engine startup during the period. A fuel control module richens fueling of the engine during the first and second CLO events of the period. A spark control module retards spark timing of the engine during the first and second CLO events of the period.

A method of generating vehicle control data includes: storing, with a storage device, relationship prescription data; operating, with an execution device, an operable portion of an internal combustion engine; acquiring, with the execution device, a detection value from a sensor that detects the state of the vehicle; calculating, with the execution device, a reward; and updating, with the execution device, the relationship prescription data using update mapping determined in advance, the update mapping using the state of the vehicle based on the detection value, an operation amount used to operate the operable portion, and the reward corresponding to the operation as arguments, and returning the relationship prescription data which have been updated such that an expected profit for the reward calculated when the operable portion is operated in accordance with the relationship prescription data increases.

A method of heating an aftertreatment system includes fulfilling a vehicle drive load of a vehicle via an electrical drivetrain of a vehicle hybrid powertrain, wherein the vehicle hybrid powertrain comprises the electrical drivetrain and an internal combustion engine; while the electrical drivetrain is fulfilling the vehicle drive load, operating the internal combustion engine to generate airflow for transport of heat through the aftertreatment system; and directing a heat source to raise a temperature through a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device of the aftertreatment system.

A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The electric machine is rotatably coupled to the engine and is configured to deliver electrical power to electrical accessories. The controller is programmed to, in response to a control signal loss between the electric machine and the controller, limit torque output of electric machine to less than a torque threshold that corresponds to the power threshold. The controller is further programmed to, in response an accessory power demand being greater than the power threshold, control the engine to power the electric machine to increase the torque output of electric machine to greater than the torque threshold to meet the accessory power demand.

An exhaust gas aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine, which comprises an exhaust system which can be connected to the outlet of an internal combustion engine. A catalytic converter close to the engine and a second catalytic converter arranged downstream of the catalytic converter in an underbody of a motor vehicle are provided in the flow direction of an exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine flowing through an exhaust gas duct of the exhaust system. An inlet point for secondary air, an exhaust gas burner, and a fuel injector for introducing fuel into the exhaust gas duct are arranged downstream of the catalytic converter close to the engine and upstream of the second catalytic converter. According to the invention, the exhaust gas burner is activated immediately after the internal combustion engine is started in order to heat the second catalytic converter to its light-off temperature. Once the second catalytic converter has reached its light-off temperature, secondary air and fuel are additionally introduced into the exhaust gas duct and are exothermically reacted on the second catalytic converter in order to support the heating of the second catalytic converter.

A control device executes abnormality detection processing for detecting an abnormality of a current sensor. The abnormality detection processing includes first processing which is executed in a case where, during reception of electric power from a power supply, a state of charge of a power storage device is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount and electric power is supplied to an electrically heated catalyst device. The first processing includes processing for detecting an abnormality of the current sensor by estimating a current supplied to the electrically heated catalyst device using a detection value of a charging current sensor and comparing the estimated value with a detection value of the current sensor.

A muffler for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, especially for vehicles with hybrid drive, includes a muffler housing (12), a heat exchanger unit (48), arranged in the muffler housing (12), for transferring heat from combustion exhaust gas to a heat transfer medium, an inlet pipe (38), a first outlet pipe (52) and a second outlet pipe (40). A first exhaust gas flow path (54), in the muffler housing, routs exhaust gas through the heat exchanger unit (48) to the first outlet pipe (52). A second exhaust gas flow path (56), in the muffler housing, routs exhaust gas to a second outlet pipe (40), bypassing the heat exchanger unit (48). A flow path blocking/releasing device (58) for blocking and releasing at least one exhaust gas flow path (54, 56), of the first exhaust gas flow path (54) and of the second exhaust gas flow path (56).

An exhaust system comprising: a NOx storage catalyst; an electric heating element; and a NOx reduction catalyst wherein the heating element is located downstream of the NOx storage catalyst.