The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle drive train (1) comprising a prime mover (2), comprising a transmission (3), and comprising a driven end (4). A friction-locking shift element (10) is provided, the power transmission capacity of which is variable and, with the aid of which, at least a portion of the torque transmitted in the vehicle drive train (1) can be transmitted between a transmission output shaft (8) and an area (6) of the driven end (4). One shift-element half is operatively connected to the transmission output shaft (8) and the other shift-element half is operatively connected to the area (6) of the driven end (4). The rotational speed of the transmission output shaft (8) is determined as a function of the rotational speed in the area (6) of the driven end (4) and also as a function of the rotational speed of the prime mover (2) and the ratio currently engaged in the area of the transmission (3). In the event of a deviation between the rotational speed of the transmission output shaft (8) determined on the output end and the rotational speed of the transmission output shaft (8) determined on the transmission-input end, which is greater than or equal to a threshold value and/or an operating temperature in the area of the friction-locking shift element (10), which is greater than or equal to a limiting value, measures reducing loads of the friction-locking shift element (10) are initiated.

Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for mitigating turbulent air for vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, a vehicle includes one or more downforce elements, one or more sensors, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to obtain one or more parameter values for the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The processor is processor coupled to the one or more sensors, and is configured to at least facilitate determining whether turbulent air for the vehicle is likely using the parameters, and adjusting a downforce for the vehicle, during operation of the vehicle, by providing instructions for controlling the one or more downforce elements when it is determined that turbulent air for the vehicle is likely.

A hybrid vehicle includes a controller. First control is control of an engine and a motor such that the hybrid vehicle travels by switching between a charge depleting mode and a charge sustaining mode. Second control is control of the engine and the motor such that the hybrid vehicle travels in accordance with a travel plan in which the charge depleting mode or the charge sustaining mode is assigned to each travel section of a travel plan route to a destination. The controller controls the engine and the motor such that a state of charge of an electric power storage device becomes higher in the charge sustaining mode in the second control than in the charge sustaining mode in the first control.

Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for controlling lift for vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, a vehicle includes a body, one or more sensors, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to measure values pertaining to one or more parameter values for a vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the one or more sensors, and is configured to at least facilitate determining whether an unplanned lift of the body of the vehicle is likely using the parameters, and implementing one or more control measures when it is determined that the unplanned lift of the body of the vehicle is likely.

A control apparatus for an electric vehicle that includes (i) an electric motor, (ii) a high-low switching device configured to establish a high gear position or a low gear position, (iii) a center differential configured to transmit rotation outputted from the high-low switching device, to the front and rear wheels, while allowing differential rotation between the front and rear wheels, and (iv) a high-low selection device configured to select the high gear position or low gear position that is to be established in the high-low switching device. The control apparatus includes a creep control portion configured to execute a creep control for generating a creep torque during stop of the vehicle. The creep control portion executes a creep cut for stopping the creep control under a predetermined constant condition, and stops the execution of the creep cut when the low gear position is selected during execution of the creep cut.

A hybrid powertrain includes a torque provider, an automatic transmission without a torque converter, and a transfer case configured for providing four wheel drive low range. A controller receives a signal indicative of the transfer case being in low range and determines if brake pedal torque is indicative of a brake pedal being released and, if so, commands engagement of a launch clutch of the transmission up to maximum creep torque capacity at a predetermined maximum gradient. The controller determines when torque provider speed is synchronized with vehicle creep speed, and upon such determination, controls the launch clutch to fully engage to a lock up state to mimic behavior of engagement of a manual transmission gear when the hybrid powertrain is in low range to thereby substantially eliminate a time lag associated with automatic transmissions having a torque converter or a constantly slipping launch clutch.

A controller for a driving force transmitting apparatus mounted in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, includes: a driving force controller configured to calculate a command torque indicating a driving force to be transmitted to the sub-drive wheels via the driving force transmitting apparatus based on a traveling state of the four-wheel-drive vehicle and a road surface condition, and to control the driving force transmitting apparatus based on the command torque; and a road surface condition determiner configured to determine that the road surface condition is a high- condition when a duration of a non-slipping state where a vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a prescribed value and a slip ratio of each of both the main drive wheels is lower than a prescribed value has become equal to or longer than a prescribed time.

A wheel load estimation method of a four-wheel drive vehicle driven by a rotational driving device comprises a correlation relationship setting step for previously setting a correlation relationship between a total weight and at least one of the front wheel load and the rear wheel load by variously changing a movable load of the vehicle, a total vehicle weight computation step for calculating a current total vehicle weight from an output torque of the rotational driving device and a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle corresponding to the output torque, and a wheel load estimation step for estimating the wheel load of at least a driving wheel from the correlation relationship and the total vehicle weight.

In a four-wheel-drive vehicle having auxiliary drive wheels to which power of a drive power source is transmitted via a transmission member, in which connecting/disconnecting devices are provided between the drive power source and the transmission member and between the transmission member and the auxiliary drive wheels such that one of the connecting/disconnecting devices is a friction engagement clutch while the other is a dog clutch, when switching from two-wheel-drive running mode in which both the clutches are disconnected to four-wheel-drive running mode, an acceleration/deceleration adaptive synchronization portion sets an allowable deceleration based on a vehicle acceleration/deceleration and controls an engagement torque of the friction engagement clutch to make the deceleration of the vehicle equal to the allowable deceleration when the rotation speed of the transmission member is increased.

A utility vehicle includes: a travel unit having a left-right pair of front travel apparatuses and a left-right pair of rear travel apparatuses; an engine capable of driving first travel apparatuses being one of the pair of front travel apparatuses and the pair of rear travel apparatuses; a motor capable of driving second travel apparatuses being the other of the pair of front travel apparatuses and the pair of rear travel apparatuses; and a control apparatus capable of switching between an engine two-wheel drive mode in which only the engine is driven, a motor two-wheel drive mode in which only the motor is driven, and a hybrid four-wheel drive mode in which the engine and the motor are both driven.