An assembly for an engine includes a control module including a controller operable to control at least certain aspects of the operation of the engine, a display including an input connected to the controller, and a wireless receiver connected to the controller. The wireless receiver is arranged to receive a signal from a wireless device to cause the controller to send an engine start signal to cause starting of the engine and wherein the input when actuated causes the controller to send an engine start signal to cause starting of the engine. In at least some implementations, no keyed ignition switch is provided to start the engine and the engine is started only via the wireless device or the input.

The control device is a control device applied to the vehicle. The control device is capable of performing a starting process to start the internal combustion engine by driving either the motor generator or the starter upon receipt of a starting request. The control device starts the internal combustion engine by driving the starter when, in the starting process, the starting request is based on remote operation from the communication device outside the vehicle. On the other hand, in the starting process, the control device starts the internal combustion engine by driving the motor generator if it receives a starting request while there is an occupant in the vehicle.

A motor vehicle comprises an HVAC system including a climate control circuit coupled to onboard sensors, a human-machine interface, and climate actuators. The actuators are responsive to respective command parameters generated by the control circuit in response to the sensors and the human-machine interface. A wireless communication system transmits vehicle HVAC data to and receives crowd data from a remote server. The control circuit initiates a request for crowd data via the communication system to the remote server, wherein the request includes peer parameters for identifying a vehicle environment. The control circuit receives a response via the communication system from the remote server. The response comprises crowd data and at least one weight indicating a confidence level associated with the crowd data. The control circuit generates at least one command parameter using a set of fuzzy rules responsive to the crowd data and the weight from the response.

An electronic control unit of a hybrid vehicle is configured to determine whether or not parking operation of the hybrid vehicle is being performed. The electronic control unit is configured to control the engine and the rotary electric machine such that starting the engine when the parking operation of the hybrid vehicle is being performed is harder than starting the engine when the parking operation of the hybrid vehicle is not being performed.

A remote controller, a remote-control system and a control method thereof are provided. The remote controller includes a motion sensing circuit and a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the motion sensing circuit. The motion sensing circuit determines whether or not a motion of the remote controller complies with one of multiple reference motions. When the motion of the remote controller complies with one of the reference motions, the wireless communication circuit is switched from a sleep state to a working state. The wireless communication circuit that is in the working state determines whether or not a received signal strength indication between the remote controller and a controlled device is greater than or equal to a strength threshold. When the received signal strength indication is less than the strength threshold, the wireless communication circuit is switched from the working state to the sleep state.

The invention relates to a method for controlling access to at least one function of a motor vehicle (10), comprising:—an action step during which an electronic control unit (11) on board the motor vehicle detects an interaction of a user with the motor vehicle,—a verification step during which the electronic control unit verifies that the user is authorised to access said function, and—an authorisation step during which the electronic control unit authorises access to said function. According to the invention, said verification step comprises sending of a query message by said electronic control unit to a mobile terminal (20) carried by the user or by a person accompanying the user, and said authorisation step is only implemented if, in response to the query message, the electronic control unit receives an access-right validation message from the mobile terminal.

Systems and methods for operating an engine that may be rotated by an electric machine during engine starting are described. In one example, an amount of electric current that is available to rotate the engine via the electric machine may be adjusted in response to an indication that a vehicle that includes the engine may be parked in a geographical area that may be flooded.

The disclosure provides an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) system for use with a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, an onboard first energy storage device configured to store and provide DC electrical power for at least one of cranking and starting the engine, and a charging device configured to provide a recharging power to the first energy storage device. The UPS system includes a second energy storage device configured to store and provide DC electrical power, and a DC interface electrically coupled between the first and second energy storage devices. The UPS system further includes a DC-AC inverter electrically coupled to the second energy storage system configured to invert the DC power to AC power, an AC power interface electrically coupled to the DC-AC inverter configured to provide an electrical connection to an external load, and a control system configured to selectively operate the charging device of the vehicle.

One method for remotely starting an engine of a vehicle includes notifying, from the vehicle, a remote user of the vehicle that a battery of the vehicle has a charge level below a predetermined threshold. This method includes remotely starting the engine to charge the battery with energy from the engine upon receiving from the user a confirmation to start the engine. Another method includes remotely starting the engine in response to a command, from the user, to start the engine for preconditioning the vehicle. This method assesses charge level of the battery following engine start and adjusts engine-on time and vehicle settings to prioritize battery charge maintenance versus preconditioning based on the charge level.

A method, apparatus, system, vehicle, and/or computer program provides that one or more components of a vehicle are operated as a function of a predetermined pick-up time of the vehicle at a pick-up position of a parking facility in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.