Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission, where the transmission is downstream of the engine, and where the electric machine is downstream of the transmission. In one example, while the vehicle is being propelled solely via the electric machine, one or more gears of the transmission may be pre-engaged or selected, to prepare the driveline for an engine start event. In this way, driveline torque disturbance and delays in torque requests may be reduced or avoided upon a request for an engine start event.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission, where the transmission is downstream of the engine, and where the electric machine is downstream of the transmission. In one example, responsive to a driver-demanded wheel torque that exceeds a capacity of the electric machine, a vehicle acceleration plateau is avoided by transiently connecting a crankshaft of the engine to a low speed input shaft of the transmission while the engine is accelerating to a target speed.

An electric motor includes a stator assembly and a rotor configured to rotate within the stator assembly about an axis. The stator assembly includes a stator case having a channel and a laminate steel core having a retention feature aligned with the channel of the stator case. The stator case is fixed to the laminate steel core via displacement of material of the stator case at the channel toward the laminate steel core to capture the retention feature. An electro-mechanical drive-unit employing the above-described electric motor and a method of generating a stator assembly for such an electric motor are also contemplated.

A power train system for a hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine; a first motor operating as a motor for driving the vehicle; a first power transmission mechanism connected between the engine and the first motor; a second power transmission mechanism connected between the first motor and a driving shaft of traveling wheels and transmitting engine power transmitted to the first motor or the engine power and power from the first motor to the driving shaft of the traveling wheels; and a second motor connected to the second power transmission mechanism by a fourth power transmission mechanism to transmit power to the second power transmission mechanism and outputting power for driving the vehicle.

Electric machine assemblies and methods of manufacturing and operating electric machine assemblies for internal combustion engines are provided. The electric machine assembly includes an electric machine configured to generate electric current by induction via a prime mover causing rotation of one of a rotor and a stator with respect to the other one of the rotor and the stator. The electric machine assembly also includes a torque transmitter including a rotating output driver coupled to the prime mover of the electric machine. The torque transmitter includes a rotating input driver configured to receive a rotary input transmitted from a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The rotating input driver is coupled to the rotating output driver to actuate the rotating output driver at a plurality of gear ratios.

A control system for hybrid vehicles configured to improve energy efficiency by controlling a speed difference in a coupling. The hybrid vehicle comprises: a power split mechanism; an engine connected to a first rotary element; a first motor connected to the second rotary element; a second motor connected to the third rotary element; drive wheels to which a torque is delivered from the third rotary element; and a coupling comprising a drive member and a driven member. A controller is configured to change the speed difference in the coupling, and to change a speed or a torque of at least one of the first motor and the second motor after changing the speed difference in the coupling.

Drive systems or powertrains including transmissions for electric and hybrid electric vehicles are provided. 3-position linear motor, 2-way clutches (i.e. CMDs) are included in the transmissions. An electric 3-speed AMT having a magnetic coupling device such as a magnetic torque converter is provided to magnetically transfer a portion of rotating mechanical energy of an electric powerplant or motor to a transmission output shaft in response to an electrical signal to synchronize angular velocities of the transmission output shaft and an output shaft of the electric powerplant during a change in state of one of the CMDs. Torque is transferred to the transmission output shaft during the change in state.

An apparatus including a drive shaft, a transmission, and a motor shaft. The drive shaft includes a drive gear and is configured to transmit power to a wheel of a vehicle. The transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and an intermediate gear. The input shaft includes a transmission input gear and a plurality of input shaft gears. The output shaft includes a transmission output gear and a plurality of output shaft gears. The input shaft and the output shaft are aligned such that the input shaft gears mesh with the output shaft gears. The output shaft includes a first synchronizer configured to selectively engage an output shaft gear from the plurality of output shaft gears to adjust a ratio between an input shaft speed and an output shaft speed. The transmission output gear is operably coupled to the drive gear such that power is transmitted between the transmission output gear and the drive gear when the output shaft gear is engaged. The transmission input gear is operably coupled to an engine shaft such that a rotation speed of the input shaft is dependent on a rotation speed of the engine shaft when the first synchronizer is being shifted. The motor shaft is configured to be coupled to a motor. The motor shaft has a first motor gear and a second motor gear. The first motor gear is operably coupled to the drive gear and the second motor gear is operably coupled to the intermediate gear. The motor shaft includes a second synchronizer configured to selectively engage the first motor gear and the second motor gear. The first motor gear is configured to transmit power between the motor shaft and the drive shaft when the second synchronizer engages the first motor gear. The intermediate gear is configured to transmit power between the motor shaft and the engine shaft when the second synchronizer engages the second motor gear.

Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In one example, an engine may enter or stay in one of two cylinder modes in response to a request to a negative torque capacity of an electric machine being insufficient to provide a desired driveline braking torque. One cylinder mode operates cylinders with cylinder valves held closed and without fuel being injected to the cylinders while the other cylinder mode operates cylinders with valves that open and close without fuel being injected to the cylinders.

A transmission of a vehicle is provided. The transmission includes: a first input shaft receiving engine power; a second input shaft receiving motor power; an output shaft; a first stage driving gear at the first input shaft; a second stage driving gear at the second input shaft; a third stage driving gear at the second input shaft; a first synchronizing unit connecting one of the second input shaft and the first stage driving gear to the first input shaft; a second synchronizing unit connecting the second input shaft to the third stage driving gear; first and third stage driven gears engaged with the first and third stage driving gears to form shift ratios of first and third stages; and a second stage driven gear through a one-way clutch while being engaged with the second stage driving gear to form a shift ratio of second state.