An engine including an engine block having a cylinder defining a front of the engine, a blower housing coupled to the engine block and defining a hot half and a cool half opposite the front half, a starter mount assembly coupled to the blower housing and positioned within the cool half, an electric starter motor retained by the starter mount assembly, and a battery mounted to the blower housing and positioned in the cool half. The battery is electrically coupled to the electric starter motor.

An electric starter system is used with an engine. The starter system may include a solenoid device coupled to a pinion gear, a brushless starter motor connectable to the engine via the pinion gear during a requested engine start event, and a controller. In response to the start event, when the engine speed is less than a threshold speed, the controller delivers a control current to the solenoid device at a peak current level sufficient for translating the pinion gear into contact with the flywheel. The control current is reduced to a holding current level less than the peak current level after the pinion gear is engaged with the flywheel. Motor torque is commanded from the starter motor, through the pinion gear, and to the flywheel while maintaining the holding current level, and held for a duration sufficient for starting the engine.

A pressure washer may include a pump configured to receive a relatively low pressure fluid inlet and provide a relatively high pressure fluid outlet. The pressure washer may also include an engine coupled with the pump for driving the pump. An electric starter may be engageable with the engine for starting the engine. A flow sensor may be configured to provide a control signal in response to detecting fluid flow through the pump. The pressure washer may also include a controller configured to actuate the electric starter in response to the control signal when the engine is not operating.

A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine configured to be selectively activated to provide torque to propel the vehicle and a starter module coupled to the engine and configured to start the engine from an inactive state. The starter module includes a brushless electric machine to generate an output torque to crank start the engine. The starter motor also includes a pinion gear coupled to the electric machine, where the pinion gear is actuatable to selectively engage a cranking input of the engine. A controller assembly is programmed to cause actuation of the pinion gear to engage the cranking input of the engine and transfer a cranking torque to activate the engine.

A battery booster for jumpstarting a vehicle having an external battery. The battery booster may include a processor, a set of terminal connectors, a power supply, and a power-management circuit. The set of terminal connectors may be configured to couple with the external battery or an engine that is electrically coupled with the external battery. The power supply may include a lithium battery configured to supply a starting current to jump start an engine. The external battery may have a first nominal voltage, while the lithium battery may have a second nominal voltage that is greater than the first nominal voltage. The power-management circuit operatively coupled with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transfer power selectively between the external battery and the power supply. The processor is configured to perform a pre-charge function and/or a back-feed function via the power-management circuit, which may employ a pulse width modulation (PWM) driver.

An electric starter system is used with an engine. The starter system may include a solenoid device coupled to a pinion gear, a brushless starter motor connectable to the engine via the pinion gear during a requested engine start event, and a controller. In response to the start event, when the engine speed is less than a threshold speed, the controller delivers a control current to the solenoid device at a peak current level sufficient for translating the pinion gear into contact with the flywheel. The control current is reduced to a holding current level less than the peak current level after the pinion gear is engaged with the flywheel. Motor torque is commanded from the starter motor, through the pinion gear, and to the flywheel while maintaining the holding current level, and held for a duration sufficient for starting the engine.

A system includes an electric machine coupled to an engine and configured to start the engine from an inactive state. A controller executes a first control algorithm while output speed of the electric machine is less than a first speed threshold, and also executes a second control algorithm while the output speed is greater than the first speed threshold and less than a second speed threshold. Additionally, the controller is programmed to execute a third control algorithm while the output speed is greater than the second speed threshold. The first control algorithm includes operating the electric machine using trapezoidal current control with pulse width modulation. The second control algorithm includes operating the electric machine using six-step voltage control with a variable phase advance angle. The third control algorithm includes operating the electric machine using six-step voltage control with a predetermined fixed phase advance angle.

A system includes an electric machine coupled to an engine and configured to start the engine from an inactive state. A controller executes a first control algorithm while output speed of the electric machine is less than a first speed threshold, and also executes a second control algorithm while the output speed is greater than the first speed threshold and less than a second speed threshold. Additionally, the controller is programmed to execute a third control algorithm while the output speed is greater than the second speed threshold. The first control algorithm includes operating the electric machine using trapezoidal current control with pulse width modulation. The second control algorithm includes operating the electric machine using six-step voltage control with a variable phase advance angle. The third control algorithm includes operating the electric machine using six-step voltage control with a predetermined fixed phase advance angle.

A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine configured to be selectively activated to provide torque to propel the vehicle and a starter module coupled to the engine and configured to start the engine from an inactive state. The starter module includes a brushless electric machine to generate an output torque to crank start the engine. The starter motor also includes a pinion gear coupled to the electric machine, where the pinion gear is actuatable to selectively engage a cranking input of the engine. A controller assembly is programmed to cause actuation of the pinion gear to engage the cranking input of the engine and transfer a cranking torque to activate the engine.

A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine and a first electric machine each configured to selectively provide torque to propel the vehicle. The propulsion system also includes a second electric machine coupled to the engine and configured to start the engine from an inactive state. A controller is programmed to execute a first control algorithm while output speed of the second electric machine is less than a first speed threshold. The controller is also programmed to execute a second control algorithm while output speed of the second electric machine is greater than the first speed threshold and less than a second speed threshold.