A hybrid vehicle includes at least one axle, an energy storage device disposed within the hybrid vehicle, a fuel consuming engine, a power boosting feature, and a controller. The fuel consuming engine is operably connected to selectively provide power to at least one of the energy storage device and the at least one axle. The engine is capable of providing at least the mean but less than a peak power to drive the hybrid vehicle over a typical route. The power boosting feature is configured to provide the fuel consuming engine with additional power to achieve a desired power to accelerate the hybrid vehicle. The controller is adapted to selectively control power flow to the one or more axles from one or more of the energy storage device, the engine, and the power boosting feature to achieve the desired power.

A method for air conditioning an electric or hybrid vehicle includes preconditioning a high voltage accumulator of the electric or hybrid vehicle. The electric or hybrid vehicle has an interior and the high voltage accumulator is air conditioned with an air-conditioning unit having a determined cooling potential. The high voltage accumulator has a current HVS temperature. The interior has a current interior temperature. During the preconditioning, the high voltage accumulator is supercooled in a preconditioning mode with the air-conditioning unit to an HVS temperature that is below an HVS operating temperature.

A use index IDX indicative of a degree of use of external charging is calculated and transmitted to a vehicle external system. The vehicle external system provides a service or imposes a penalty based on the use index IDX. In a case where the degree of use of external charging is determined to be low based on the use index IDX, if the vehicle external system provides a non-preferential service or imposes a heavy penalty as compared with a case where the degree of use of external charging is determined to be high, a driver or an owner of a vehicle takes an action by which the use index is determined to indicate, a high degree of use of external charging. As a result, the use of external charging can be promoted.

The number of opportunities where external charging of a vehicle parked in a residential parking space or a charging station in a predetermined period is available is counted as the number of opportunities, and the number of times of the external charging performed in the opportunities in the same predetermined period is counted as the number of times of charging. The number of times of charging is then divided by the number of opportunities to calculate and store a charging frequency. Since the charging frequency is a ratio of the number of times that the external charging was performed to the number of opportunities where the external charging is available in the predetermined period, the ratio is used as an index that can offer more accurate determination regarding an external charging utilization status. As a result, various processing to promote external charging can be executed more properly.

A vehicle and a method for controlling the same are provided to secure additional distance to empty (DTE) of the vehicle by controlling the use of a load that is consuming battery power or by changing driving mode, when a recharging station is unavailable within DTE of the vehicle at a current battery charge level. The vehicle includes a DTE calculator that calculates DTE of the vehicle based on a battery charge level and a cluster that displays the calculated DTE. A controller detects a recharging station located within the calculated DTE and transmits a control signal to create an interface for controlling battery power consumption based on battery power consumed by at least one load when a recharging station is unavailable within the calculated DTE and a display displays the created interface.

A motor vehicle comprises an assembly for charging an energy store, which assembly has: an element for converting radiation energy into electrical energy, a further element for providing electrical energy, the energy store, a control device which is coupled to the conversion element, to the further element and to the energy store, in order to control the charging of the energy store by the conversion element and the further element, as a function of prediction data which comprises weather data, and as a function of a predefined value of the state of charge of the energy store.

A hybrid power module efficiently delivers both hydraulic power and electric power. The hybrid power module may regenerate and store energy for later use. The module includes and engine and an electric motor for driving a hydraulic pump. The electric motor is operable as a starter motor for the engine and as an assist motor cooperating with the engine to power the hydraulic pump to improve dynamic response of the hydraulic pump. The module also includes an electric power source which may have an energy storage unit, and the electric motor may be operated as an electric generator providing electric energy to the energy storage unit.

An engine control system for a vehicle includes a controller that initiates a start of the engine in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a battery falling below an engine start threshold, initiates a stop of the engine in response to the SOC exceeding an engine stop threshold, and adjusts a value of the engine start threshold based on whether a load remote from the vehicle is drawing power from the battery.

The disclosure concerns a motor vehicle with at least partially electric drive, having a floor structure of a motor vehicle bodyshell and a traction battery. The traction battery is arranged on an underside of the floor structure and is connected thereto. The floor structure has a central tunnel extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and having a profile open towards the bottom. A plurality of reinforcing webs is arranged on the central tunnel, which stiffen the central tunnel and are fixedly connected thereto. The traction battery is attached at least to some of the reinforcing webs.

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, selectively powering a heating device to augment heating of an engine oil associated with an engine of a vehicle in a manner that influences an oil quality value of the engine oil.