A vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine coupled to a transmission element. The electric machine is also selectively coupled with the engine by a clutch. The vehicle includes a belt integrated starter-generator (BISG) operatively coupled to the engine. An electronic controller includes one or more inputs adapted to receive a temperature measurement and a request to start the engine. The electronic controller is programmed to, in response to the one or more inputs receiving the request to start the engine and the temperature measurement less than a threshold temperature measurement, effect actuation of the electric machine and close the clutch to apply a first torque to the engine. The electronic controller is further programmed to, in response to an engine speed achieving an engine speed threshold, effect actuation of the BISG to apply a second torque to the engine.

Systems and methods for positioning an engine during engine stopping and during vehicle activation are described. In one example, a belt integrated starter/generator rotates an engine before the engine is started to reduce engine starting time and determine engine position before the engine is started. The engine may be rotated to a first or second position based on a destination of the vehicle.

A method for starting an internal combustion engine (ICE) having a crankshaft and an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to the crankshaft comprises energizing an absolute position sensor adapted for providing an indication of an angular position of a rotor of the ETM and applying a current to the ETM to generate a sufficient torque to rotate the crankshaft.

A system for a vehicle includes an electric machine configured to transfer power between an engine and traction battery, an auxiliary battery electrically connected with and isolated from the traction battery, and a controller programmed to, after receiving an engine start request, initiate an engine start using the batteries in response to available traction battery power being below a threshold, and initiate the engine start using the traction battery but not the auxiliary battery otherwise.

An engine starter of a vehicle switching between EV traveling and HV traveling, includes: an engine starting unit to start an engine based on a starting operation by a driver during the EV traveling; and a starting operation switching unit to switch the starting operation to a first starting operation while the vehicle is traveling in an outside area of a preset emission gas regulation area and to switch the starting operation to a second starting operation while the vehicle is traveling in an inside area of the emission gas regulation area. Further, while the vehicle is performing the EV traveling in the inside area of the emission gas regulation area, the engine starting unit is not start the engine when the first starting operation is performed by the driver and to start the engine when the second starting operation is performed by the driver.

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.

A start control device of a vehicular direct injection engine provided in a vehicle is configured to execute an ignition start to raise rotation of the direct injection engine at a start of the direct injection engine by fuel injection and multiple sparking performed for a predetermined cylinder in an expansion stroke out of multiple cylinders of the direct injection engine, the start control device of a vehicular direct injection engine reduces the number of times of sparking for the predetermined cylinder at the time of an ignition start of the direct injection engine as compared to an ignition start performed before the current ignition start based on ignition timing of the ignition start performed before the current ignition start.

A vehicle includes a starter motor, an engine having an output mechanically coupled to the starter motor, a transmission having an input, and an electric machine mechanically coupled to the transmission input. The vehicle further includes a clutch configured to mechanically couple the electric machine and the output of the engine, and at least one controller. The at least one controller is programmed to initiate an engine start based on driver demand. The controller is further configured to enable pressure to the clutch for the engine start if driver demand is less than a calibratable torque value or enable the starter motor for the engine start if the driver demand is greater than a calibratable torque value. The controller may lock the clutch to the output of the engine in response to the speed of the engine being approximately equal to the speed of the electric machine.

An engine starting control system for hybrid vehicles is provided to prevent a temporal drop in drive force when starting an engine. The control system maintains an operating mode of a switching mechanism when starting the engine by the first motor, in a case that the vehicle is propelled in the forward direction by the first motor and that the switching mechanism is in a second mode, or in a case that the vehicle is propelled in the reverse direction by the first motor and that the switching mechanism is in the first mode. Thereafter, the control system increases a rotational speed of the engine to a self-sustaining speed, switches the operating mode of the switching mechanism, and increases torque of the engine.

Methods and systems are provided for reducing emissions during an engine cold start. In one example, a method may include, during emission control device heating, initiating combustion in a cylinder via a spark plug directly coupled to the cylinder and providing secondary air via a turbulent jet ignition system. In this way, an amount of hydrocarbons in feedgas provided to the emission control device prior to the emission control device reaching its light-off temperature may be reduced.