Provided is a control device for a vehicle, the vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a generator capable of being rotated by the internal combustion engine, a battery that stores power generated by rotation of the generator, and a motor that is supplied with power from the battery and outputs a driving force to a drive wheel, wherein, at a timing at which a requested output, which is requested when the internal combustion engine is operating with the internal combustion engine and the drive wheel not mechanically connected to each other and the internal combustion engine is performing a stoichiometric operation that operates in accordance with a theoretical air-to-fuel ratio, is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the control device starts to increase the number of rotations of the internal combustion engine to the number of rotations set in a rich operation where a ratio of a fuel of the internal combustion engine to oxygen is higher than the theoretical air-to-fuel ratio.

An active purge system (APS) according to a driving state of a hybrid vehicle includes an active purge unit (APU) configured to pressurize a vaporized gas generated in a fuel tank of the hybrid vehicle and supply the pressurized vaporized gas to an intake pipe, and a control unit configured to control the APU, where the control unit gradually controls a processing amount of the vaporized gas according to the driving state of the hybrid vehicle. The processing amount of the vaporized gas is gradually controlled using the APS according to the driving state of the hybrid vehicle, particularly, a number of places at which slip occurs in a power transmission system of the hybrid vehicle so that degradation of driving ability due to the occurrence of slip is reduced.

A control method is provided for controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle configured to engage a lockup clutch during a fuel cut, and to decrease a lockup hydraulic pressure at a fuel cut recovery to bring the lockup clutch to a slip engagement. The control method includes estimating a torque of the internal combustion engine generated by the fuel cut recovery when a fuel cut recovery condition is satisfied. The control method further includes decreasing a decrease amount of the lockup hydraulic pressure as the torque is greater.

A vehicle control apparatus includes a detector that detects an external temperature of a vehicle, a vehicle speed, and a coolant temperature of an engine, an input device that receives a signal for ON or OFF operations of a heating control, and a controller configured for determining a heating load depending on the heating control when the external temperature is less than a predetermined temperature and the signal for the ON operation of the heating control is input, and controls an operation of an integrated thermal management valve, a deactivation operation of cylinders included in the engine, and an operation of an active air flap, according to at least one of the heating load and the coolant temperature.

Methods and systems are provided for reducing a possibility of hydrocarbon (HC) release to atmosphere from an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system. In one example, a method may include, isolating a fuel vapor canister of the EVAP system from atmosphere and an engine intake manifold upon conditions being met for a potential hydrocarbon (HC) breakthrough from the fuel vapor canister.

Systems and methods provide deceleration fuel cutoff regeneration of a gas particulate filter. A powertrain system includes an exhaust system containing the gas particulate filter, which is configured to collect particulate matter from an exhaust gas stream of the powertrain system. A temperature sensor is configured to monitor a temperature of the gas particulate filter. A loading monitor, such as a sensor and/or a model, is configured to provide a loading input of particulate loading of the gas particulate filter. At least one controller is configured to: determine, by comparing the loading input to stored values, whether the gas particulate filter requires the regeneration; effect a warmup of the gas particulate filter when the determination shows the gas particulate filter requires the regeneration; and initiate the regeneration when a value received from the temperature sensor meets a minimum threshold level.

A hydraulic circuit for an adaptive park braking system and method of operation thereof. The method of operating an adaptive park braking system includes providing a vehicle having a motor, a front axle system, a rear axle system, wherein the front axle system has one or more front axle braking systems and the rear axle system has one or more rear axle braking systems. Identifying when the vehicle is engaged in a digging operation. Disconnecting the front axle system or the rear axle system from driving engagement with the motor of the vehicle. Activating the one or more braking systems of the disconnect axle system to apply an amount of force to the disconnected axle system of the vehicle. Then applying an amount of torque with the motor to the axle system in driving engagement with the motor.

A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes an integrated starter/generator and a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method estimates engine torque as a function of engine temperature during cold engine starts so that if an estimate of engine torque is in error, the integrated starter/generator may still successfully start the engine.

A system and method for dynamically varying an amount slippage of a Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) provided between an engine and a transmission of a vehicle in response to non-powertrain factors. By varying a slippage output signal, the amount of TCC slippage between the engine and the transmission can be adjusted. Small amounts of slippage, relative to large amounts of slippage, provide (a) improved vehicle fuel economy, but (b) induce more powertrain noise and vibration in the vehicle cabin. By dynamically adjusting the slippage, a tradeoff between improved fuel economy vs. a satisfying driver experience can be realized.

Methods and controllers for controlling engine speed to reduce NVH that occurs in conjunction with transmission shifts are described. In some embodiments, when a transmission shift to a target gear is expected, a target engine speed appropriate for the target gear is first determined. A target rate of change of the engine speed is calculated from the initial engine speed and target engine speed in conjunction with a target transition time. A target torque is then calculated from the target rate of change of engine speed. A target firing fraction or induction ratio are determined that are desired for use with the target engine speed based on the target torque. The transition to the target engine speed and target firing fraction or induction ratio are completed before the gear shift is completed. The described approaches are well suited for use during skip fire or other cylinder output level modulation operation of the engine.