When an amount of particulate matters (PM) collected by a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) increases, a control processing unit (CPU) of an engine electronic control unit (ENG ECU) stops combustion control of some cylinders and executes a regeneration process to cause air-fuel ratios of air-fuel mixtures in the remaining cylinders to be richer than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. A CPU of a hybrid electric vehicle electronic control unit (HV ECU) increases a target rotation speed of an internal combustion engine when the regeneration process is executed. When executing the regeneration process, the CPU increases a filling efficiency of the internal combustion engine.

If an engine coolant temperature is equal to or lower than a first low-temperature determination value and a battery temperature is equal to or lower than a second low-temperature determination value when a request to start up an engine is made, the advancement driving of a variable valve operating mechanism is first started. Then, when an advancement amount of the variable valve operating mechanism later becomes equal to or larger than a prescribed startup start determination value, is started.

Methods and systems are provided for reducing torque pulsations during hybrid engine shutdown and restarts. A valve actuating mechanism may be actuated to operate an engine with a selected valve lift profile during engine restart and shutdown events that is distinct from the valve lift profile applied during cylinder combustion. The selected valve lift profile reduces cylinder pressure during engine shutdown and restarts.

A method of operating an engine is provided. An exhaust valve actuation fault is detected for a first exhaust valve associated with a first cylinder during a first working cycle. In response to the detection of the exhaust valve actuation fault, fueling to at least the first cylinder is cut off. Actuation of the first exhaust valve is attempted in second working cycles that follow the first working cycle, wherein the second working cycles are not fueled. Whether or not the first exhaust valve actuated properly during the second working cycles is determined. Operation of the first cylinder is resumed when it is determined that the first exhaust valve actuated properly. Operation of the first cylinder is not resumed when it is determined that the first exhaust valve did not actuate properly.

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine which generates power by combustion of fuel; a drive motor which generates power, and is selectively operated as a generator to generate electrical energy; a battery which is connected to the drive motor and supplies electrical energy to the drive motor and charges the electrical energy generated in the drive motor; a battery management system which measures a State of charge (SOC) value of the battery; and a controller which is configured to determine a final target torque of the engine in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) mode based on an SOC section in which the SOC value of the battery measured in the battery management system belongs.

A control apparatus for an electric vehicle includes a first motor (traveling motor) for traveling, a battery (high-voltage battery), a second motor (generator motor) for electricity generation, an engine (rotary engine), a first controller (engine ECU), a second controller (motor ECU), and a sensor (voltage-current sensor). The second controller is configured to start the engine by causing the second motor to perform power running, cause the second motor to perform electricity generation driving such that the battery is charged, and adjust a stop position of the engine by causing the second motor to perform power running subsequently to a stop of the engine by the first controller in a case where a state of charge of the battery becomes high and the second motor finishes the electricity generation driving.

Methods and systems for deicing an engine air intake filter and an engine throttle are described. The methods and systems may include activating an evaporative emissions system heater and a pump to de-ice the engine air intake filter and the engine throttle. The deicing may be performed when an engine of a vehicle is not operating.

An apparatus and a method for controlling a hybrid vehicle are provided. The apparatus includes an engine that generates power by combusting fuel and a drive motor that supplements the power from the engine and operates selectively as an electric generator to produce electrical energy. A clutch is disposed between the engine and the drive motor and a battery supplies electrical energy to the drive motor and is charged with the electrical energy produced by the drive motor. Multiple electric superchargers are installed in multiple intake lines through which outside air to be supplied into a combustion chamber of the engine flows. A controller determines an operation mode of the multiple electric superchargers based on required power of a driver and a state of charge (SOC) of the battery and adjusts the power output from the engine and the power output from the drive motor.

In one aspect, a method for controlling an engine system includes starting the engine system, activating an engine idling reduction mode allowing automatic shutdown and automatic restarting of an engine, disallowing automatic shutdown of the engine within the engine idling reduction mode if a state of charge of a voltage source is below a charge limit for permitting automatic shutdown of the engine, and modifying the charge limit as a function of a number of starts of the engine. Other aspects include a method for disallowing automatic shutdown of an engine if a voltage source has not achieved a fully charged condition, a method of triggering an automatic restarting of an engine, if the engine is automatically shutdown, based on at least two separate indicators of engine temperature, and a method of disallowing automatic shutdown of an engine if ambient temperature is less than a predetermined value.

A method and system for operating a hybrid vehicle that includes an integrated starter/generator and a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not to rotate an engine via an electric machine while propelling a vehicle via the electric machine according to vehicle efficiency.