A method of operating an accessory drive system for a motor vehicle, wherein the accessory drive system includes one or more accessory components, a motor generator of the motor vehicle, and a flexible drive element configured to transmit a torque load between the one or more accessory components and the motor generator, includes determining a maximum permissible flexible drive element torque threshold, detecting an increase in torque demand on the flexible drive element, determining when the torque demand on the flexible drive element will exceed the flexible drive element torque threshold, and reducing the torque demand of one or more of the accessory components so that the flexible drive element torque threshold is not exceeded.

A method for operating a vehicle that may be automatically stopped and started is described. In one example, the method includes starting an engine via expansion stroke combustion in response to a request to urgently start the engine. In addition, the method includes adjusting a position of a compression relief valve in response to a predicted urgency of an engine start.

A belt pulley decoupler for the drive torque transmission between a belt of a starter-generator belt drive and the starter generator is provided. A hub is fastened on a generator shaft of the starter generator. A decoupler spring is configured to transmit drive torque of the belt from the belt pulley to the hub when the starter generator is powered. A rotary stop has a stop part on the belt pulley and a stop part on the hub. The rotary stop is configured to transmit drive torque of the generator shaft from the hub to the belt pulley when the starter generator is driving the belt. The decoupler spring is loaded in both torque directions and participates in the transmission of the drive torque from the hub to the belt pulley when the starter generator is driving the belt.

A belt pulley decoupler for the drive torque transmission between a belt of a starter-generator belt drive and the starter generator is provided. A hub is fastened on a generator shaft of the starter generator. A decoupler spring is configured to transmit drive torque of the belt from the belt pulley to the hub when the starter generator is powered. A rotary stop has a stop part on the belt pulley and a stop part on the hub. The rotary stop is configured to transmit drive torque of the generator shaft from the hub to the belt pulley when the starter generator is driving the belt. The decoupler spring is loaded in both torque directions and participates in the transmission of the drive torque from the hub to the belt pulley when the starter generator is driving the belt.

A starter box for small scale fuel powered vehicles includes a rigid container with two sets of mounting hardware on the top surface of the container. The mounting hardware engages suspension components of the vehicle. The starter box includes a drive wheel assembly connected to a brushless motor. The assembly includes a drive wheel with a frictional perimeter surface. The drive wheel extends partially through an opening in the top surface to engage a flywheel of the vehicle. Both sets of mounting hardware are horizontally movable to adapt to different vehicles. One set of mounting hardware is spring loaded and moves vertically when the vehicle is pressed downwardly to engage the drive wheel and a switch connecting the motor to a battery through an electronic speed control (ESC). The ESC is programmable to control the motor speed, acceleration, and latency of engagement while monitory the charge level of the battery.

A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes feedback of operating status of an engine starting system is described. In one example, the method inhibits automatic engine pull-down in response to feedback from an engine starting system that does not meet expectations. The system and method may provide diagnostics for the engine starting system.

A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, an accumulator sensor, and an abnormality determination unit. The first power supply system includes a generator and a first electrical energy accumulator. The second power supply system includes a second electrical energy accumulator and a group of electric devices. The accumulator sensor detects at least a discharge current of the second electrical energy accumulator. The abnormality determination unit determines that the second electrical energy accumulator is abnormal on the condition that the accumulator sensor is normal and the discharge current of the second electrical energy accumulator is equal to or smaller than a current threshold.

A vehicle includes an engine having a crankshaft, an electric machine having a shaft, and a front end accessory drive (FEAD). The FEAD includes a multi-speed pulley assembly mounted to one of the crankshaft and the shaft, a pulley mounted to the other of the crankshaft and the shaft, and a tension member trained around the multi-speed pulley assembly and the pulley. The multi-speed pulley assembly is configured to establish a low speed ratio between the shaft and the crankshaft and a high speed ratio between the shaft and the crankshaft. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in switch between the high speed ratio and the low speed ratio to optimize operating conditions of the FEAD.

An engine includes: a crankshaft pulley; a motor/generator mounted to a side of the engine and including a motor pulley; an auxiliary driving device pulley; a dual tensioner including a tensioner arm of which a first idler pulley is mounted to a first end of the tension arm and a second idler pulley is mounted to a second end of the tension arm, and the tensioner arm rotatable around a center of the motor/generator and a belt connecting the crankshaft pulley, the motor pulley, the auxiliary driving device pulley, the first idler pulley, and second idler pulley.

Methods and systems are provided for engaging and disengaging an electromagnetic clutch of a two-speed accessory drive of an engine of a vehicle. In one example, a method comprises, responsive to an electrical demand being higher than a threshold electrical demand, operating an electric machine of the vehicle in a motor mode to reduce a speed of a grounding gear of a planetary gear set of a two-speed accessory drive (TSAD) of the vehicle; and engaging an electromagnetic clutch responsive to the speed of the grounding gear reaching a clutch engagement threshold speed.