In the first mode, a controller circuitry restrains or prohibits operation of an internal combustion engine. In the second mode, the controller circuitry activates maintains the charge amount of the battery. A controller circuitry generates a travel plan assigns one of the first mode and the second mode to each of sections, which are included in the travel route. An assessing circuitry assesses a tendency of assignment of the first mode in the travel route. A notifying device notifies information corresponding to the tendency assessed by the assessing circuitry.

A power optimizer system for power closure panels includes a closure panel power actuator system comprising at least a motor operatively connected to a lift-assist member and a closure panel counterbalancing member. A controller is configured at least to determine an optimal electrical current draw for the power actuator system according to one or more inputs relating at least to a vehicle ambient temperature and grade. One or more sensors are provided for providing the one or more inputs. The controller may also further be configured to receive a vehicle battery voltage condition input for calculating the optimum electrical current draw consistent with the environmental conditions to efficiently control the power actuator system motor. Methods of modeling/optimizing the appropriate electrical current draw for power closure systems operating in varying voltage, temperature and grade conditions relative to a vehicle, or other similar mechanisms are also described.

There is a need to predict a driving environment with high responsiveness by a simple configuration. There is provided a driving environment prediction device that predicts a driving environment of a vehicle that causes a vehicle stop. The driving environment prediction device comprises: a first vehicle stop time rate calculator which is configured to calculate a rate of vehicle stop time in a first period, as a first vehicle stop time rate (shorter-period vehicle stop time rate); a second vehicle stop time rate calculator which is configured to calculate a rate of vehicle stop time in a second period which is longer than the first period, as a second vehicle stop time rate (longer-period vehicle stop time rate); and a driving environment predictor which is configured to predict the driving environment, based on the shorter-period vehicle stop time rate and the longer-period vehicle stop time rate.

A drive device of an at least partially electrically operated vehicle includes at least two vehicle wheels, each wheel being mechanically coupled to an electrical drive unit. Each electrical drive unit obtains electrical energy from an electrical energy storage device during motor operation, and/or supplies the electrical energy storage device with electrical energy during generator operation. When operating as intended, the electrical drive units provide a torque according to a drive-unit-specific torque of a vehicle control system. A maximum total torque is determined by taking into consideration a maximum available output of the electrical energy storage device, wherein the sum formed of the drive-unit-specific torques is limited using the maximum total torque.

A method for determining a measure of energy utilization during operation of a vehicle (100) which has a first power source (101) for generating a first motive force for propulsion of the vehicle (100) in a first direction of travel, and has at least one first brake system which acts against movement of the vehicle (100) in the first direction of travel. For a first period of time when demand for motive force from the first power source is interrupted, estimating energy consumption during operation of the vehicle (100) without demanding brake force from the first brake system, and using the estimated energy consumption during operation of the vehicle (100), without demanding brake force from the first brake system, as a basis for determining a measure of energy utilization during operation of the vehicle (100).

An apparatus and a method for controlling an engine operating point of a hybrid electric vehicle are provided to determine charging and discharging tendency based on a moving average of an engine torque and a demand torque as well as a dynamical event capture. The method includes detecting a demand torque of a driver and determining a charging and discharging tendency by calculating a moving average based on the demand torque. System efficiency is then reflected using a dynamical event capture and the charging and discharging tendency is leveled. A compensation amount of the operating point is also determined based on the leveling of the charging and discharging tendency and the operating point of the hybrid electric vehicle is adjusted based on the compensation amount of the operating point.

A controller controls an electric motor such that a pulsation compensation torque corresponding to a pulsation component of a torque of an internal combustion engine, which appears in a drive shaft, is supplied to the drive shaft as a damping torque for suppressing vibrations of a hybrid vehicle. A determination is made as to whether a torque of the electric motor, excluding the pulsation compensation torque, is smaller than a predetermined value. When it is determined that the torque excluding the pulsation compensation torque is smaller than the predetermined value, the controller selects one mode having a highest energy efficiency of the hybrid vehicle from among a plurality of modes, and controls the internal combustion engine and the electric motor based on the selected mode.

Described herein is a computer-implemented method for estimating a true fuel level of a vehicle. The method comprises: accessing an estimate as to a current state of the vehicle, the current state of the vehicle comprising a current fuel level state; predicting the state of the vehicle at a future time based on the current state of the vehicle; accessing a measured state of the vehicle based on sensor data; estimating a true state of the vehicle based on the predicted state of the vehicle and the measured state of the vehicle, the true state of the vehicle comprising an estimate as to the true fuel level of the vehicle; and outputting the estimated true fuel level of the vehicle.

Excess fuel consumption monitor and feedback systems for vehicles include sensor arrays of two primary types including those sensors deployed as part of a vehicle manufacturer established sensor suite and sensors deployed as after-market sensors. Together, these sensor suites include sensors coupled to vehicle subsystems and operating environments associated with the vehicle. Data from these sensors may be used as parametric inputs to drive algorithmic calculations which have outputs that express excess fuel consumption. Expressions of excess fuel consumption may be made instantaneously as real-time feedback to a vehicle operator/driver and/or a fleet manager as part of a summary report.

A vehicle control device includes a sensor configured to sense driving information of a vehicle, and a controller. The controller is configured to activate or deactivate a fuel conservation mode of the vehicle based on a user input, and restrict acceleration of an engine of the vehicle to be within a predetermined range based on an accelerator pedal of the vehicle being pressed with a force that is greater than a threshold force and based on the vehicle being in an activated state of the fuel conservation mode. The controller is also configured to, based on the driving information satisfying a first condition, release a restriction on the acceleration of the engine of the vehicle in the activated state of the fuel-conservation mode.