A vehicle includes a main drive unit, a sub drive unit, and a control unit. The control unit includes a driving force distribution ratio setting unit and is configured to control the main drive unit and the sub drive unit. A drive mode of the main drive unit includes an electric power drive mode and an engine drive mode. The driving force distribution ratio setting unit is configured to set the driving force distribution ratio based on a vehicle speed, a required driving force, and the drive mode. When the drive mode is the engine drive mode, the driving force distribution ratio setting unit is configured to set the driving force distribution ratio so that a distribution ratio of the main driving force is 90% or more.

A vehicle includes a main drive unit, a sub drive unit, and a control unit. The main drive unit includes a main drive rotary electric machine. The sub drive unit includes a sub drive rotary electric machine. The control unit includes a driving force distribution ratio setting unit configured to set a driving force distribution ratio between the main driving force and the sub driving force and is configured to control the outputs of the main drive unit and the sub drive unit so that the main driving force and the sub driving force have the driving force distribution ratio set by the driving force distribution ratio setting unit. The driving force distribution ratio setting unit is configured to set the driving force distribution ratio to minimize electric power loss of the vehicle based on a vehicle speed of the vehicle and a required driving force of the vehicle.

A vehicle includes a main drive unit, a sub drive unit, and a control unit. The main drive unit includes a main drive rotary electric machine. The sub drive unit includes a sub drive rotary electric machine. The control unit includes a driving force distribution ratio setting unit configured to set a driving force distribution ratio between the main driving force and the sub driving force and is configured to control the outputs of the main drive unit and the sub drive unit so that the main driving force and the sub driving force have the driving force distribution ratio set by the driving force distribution ratio setting unit. The driving force distribution ratio setting unit is configured to set the driving force distribution ratio to minimize electric power loss of the vehicle based on a vehicle speed of the vehicle and a required driving force of the vehicle.

Methods and systems are provided for improving torque control of a vehicle that includes simulated shifting of a step gear ratio transmission. In one example, a propulsive effort request is gradually incrementally increased or decreased to provide a smooth torque transition, thereby providing a smoother vehicle speed change and improve vehicle drivability.

Methods and systems are provided for improving torque control of a vehicle that includes simulated shifting of a step gear ratio transmission. In one example, a propulsive effort request is gradually incrementally increased or decreased to provide a smooth torque transition, thereby providing a smoother vehicle speed change and improve vehicle drivability.

A torque reducing process reduces torque of a multiphase rotating electric machine when a magnitude of current in a particular phase of the rotating electric machine remains greater than or equal to a given value. A deactivating process deactivates combustion control in a deactivated cylinder and continues combustion control in the remaining cylinders. A fluctuation torque applying process cyclically fluctuates the torque of the rotating electric machine in a cycle that is an integral multiple of a compression top dead center occurrence cycle when the deactivating process is being executed. A prohibiting process prohibits execution of the deactivating process in a predetermined situation where a rotation speed of a rotary shaft of the rotating electric machine is less than or equal to a given speed.

A torque reducing process reduces torque of a multiphase rotating electric machine when a magnitude of current in a particular phase of the rotating electric machine remains greater than or equal to a given value. A deactivating process deactivates combustion control in a deactivated cylinder and continues combustion control in the remaining cylinders. A fluctuation torque applying process cyclically fluctuates the torque of the rotating electric machine in a cycle that is an integral multiple of a compression top dead center occurrence cycle when the deactivating process is being executed. A prohibiting process prohibits execution of the deactivating process in a predetermined situation where a rotation speed of a rotary shaft of the rotating electric machine is less than or equal to a given speed.

In a hybrid vehicle, when a required driving force is equal to or smaller than a first upper limit driving force, a control device sets a target driving force to the required driving force. When the required driving force is larger than the first upper limit driving force, the control device sets a target compensation power of a power storage device, based on a difference between the required driving force and the first upper limit driving force. The control device sets a second upper limit driving force of a driveshaft when an upper limit power is output from an engine and the power storage device is charged or discharged with a power based on the target compensation power. The control device sets a target driving force to the smaller between the required driving force and the second upper limit driving force. This configuration suppresses deterioration of the driver's drive feeling.

In a hybrid vehicle, when a required driving force is equal to or smaller than a first upper limit driving force, a control device sets a target driving force to the required driving force. When the required driving force is larger than the first upper limit driving force, the control device sets a target compensation power of a power storage device, based on a difference between the required driving force and the first upper limit driving force. The control device sets a second upper limit driving force of a driveshaft when an upper limit power is output from an engine and the power storage device is charged or discharged with a power based on the target compensation power. The control device sets a target driving force to the smaller between the required driving force and the second upper limit driving force. This configuration suppresses deterioration of the driver's drive feeling.

A method for the performance-enhancing driver assistance of a road vehicle driven by a driver and provided with at least two drive wheels driven by at least one electric motor connected to a corresponding vehicular battery pack; the method comprises the steps of defining a dynamic model of the road vehicle; determining a route of a track travelled by the road vehicle; calculating, as a function of the dynamic model of the road vehicle and of the route, a convenience index relative to the use of energy of the vehicular battery pack by the electric motor; subdividing the route (R) into a plurality of sectors assigning to each a relative value of the calculated convenience index; delivering electrical power to the drive wheels according to the value of the convenience index assigned to each sector of the route.