A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a power storage device connected to the motor, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit executes power storage capacity decreasing control in a current trip and executes power storage capacity recovering control in a next trip when parking at a predetermined point is predicted. The electronic control unit limits execution of the power storage capacity decreasing control in the current trip when heavy-load traveling with a load heavier than a predetermined load is predicted to be performed within a predetermined period after the start of the next trip when the next trip is started at a predetermined point.

An object is to enable a vehicle to be sufficiently used as a power source when the vehicle is located in an area where a disaster occurs. There is provided a vehicle including a driving system configured to generate electric power by using a fuel and to output power for driving; a power storage device configured to transmit electric power to and from the driving system; a power feeding device configured to supply generated power that is generated by the driving system and/or electric power from the power storage device, to an external device; and a control device configured to control the driving system and the power feeding device. When the vehicle is located in the area where the disaster occurs, the control device performs a recommendation process to recommend that a user sets a charge priority mode, which gives priority to charging of the power storage device over driving.

A system and method for determining a roadway bank angle based on vehicle information. The method may include the steps of: obtaining vehicle information from at least one vehicle, the vehicle information is obtained from at least one of a global navigational satellite system (GNSS) receiver and one or more onboard vehicle sensors, and the GNSS receiver and the one or more onboard vehicle sensors are installed in the at least one vehicle; performing a roadway bank angle determination process using the obtained vehicle information to obtain a roadway bank angle; and updating a representative roadway bank angle based on the roadway bank angle.

Systems and methods for coordinating and controlling vehicles, for example heavy trucks, to follow closely behind each other, or linking to form a platoon. In one aspect, on-board controllers in each vehicle interact with vehicular sensors to monitor and control, for example, relative distance, relative acceleration or deceleration, and speed. In some aspects, vehicle onboard systems supply various data (breadcrumbs) to a Network Operations Center (NOC), which in turn provides data (authorization data) to the vehicles to facilitate platooning. The NOC suggests vehicles for platooning based on, for example, travel forecasts and analysis of relevant roadways to identify platoonable roadway segments. The NOC also can provide traffic, roadway, weather, or system updates, as well as various instructions. In some aspects, a mesh network ensures improved communication among vehicles and with the NOC. In some aspects, a vehicle onboard system may provide the authorization data.

Aspects of the present invention provide devices that receive data indicative of speed, position and direction of a first vehicle and nearby vehicles on a road, determine a passing power of the first vehicle according to characteristics of the road and operating characteristics of the first vehicle, determine safe passing by the first vehicle of one of the nearby vehicles on the road according to the received data and the determined passing power of the first vehicle, and govern the first vehicle according to the determined safe passing.

A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to generate a required power continuously even if a large power is required frequently. An operating mode of the hybrid vehicle is selected from HV mode and EV mode, and in the hybrid vehicle, a drive power established by generating maximum output power of the engine is smaller than a drive power established by supplying a maximum electric power to the motor from the electric storage device. A controller is configured to shift the operating mode from the EV mode to the HV mode when an SOC level of a battery falls below a threshold level, and to raise the threshold level when a required running condition in the electric vehicle mode is a condition that cannot be achieved by the engine without operating the motor given that the hybrid vehicle is propelled in the hybrid mode.

A method for obtaining reference signals for vehicle control systems, in function of a vehicle geographical position along a travel route, includes providing data relating to the vehicle and data relating to a route to travel, and determining a vehicle driving force reference signal and a vehicle speed reference signal through a first optimisation process configured to optimise the driving force along the travel route. An engaged gear reference signal, in function of the positions of the vehicle along the travel route, is determined through a second optimisation process configured to optimise fuel consumption of the vehicle along the travel route. The second optimisation process is subsequent to the first optimisation process, and the data relating to the travel route, as well as the driving force reference signal and the speed reference signal, is received as input, determined through the first optimisation process.

In some examples, a controller receives measurement data from a sensor on a vehicle, determines, based on the measurement data, a condition of usage of the vehicle, and selects a parameter set from among a plurality of parameter sets based on the determined condition of usage of the vehicle, the plurality of parameter sets corresponding to different conditions of usage of the vehicle, where each parameter set of the plurality of parameter sets includes one or more parameters that control adjustment of one or more respective adjustable elements of the vehicle. The controller causes application of the selected parameter set on the vehicle.

The invention provides a vehicle speed control system having a side-slope detection system (10, 19, 185C). The system comprises a processor (10, 19) arranged to receive, from one or more sensors (185C) arranged to capture data in respect of terrain ahead of the vehicle, terrain information indicative of the topography of an area extending ahead of the vehicle (100). The processor (10, 19), in dependence upon a predicted path of the vehicle (100) over said terrain extending ahead of the vehicle (100), generates, for the predicted path of the vehicle (100), information indicative of the angle of side-slope of the predicted path, being the slope of the predicted path transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle (100). The vehicle speed control system is configured to control vehicle speed in dependence at least in part on the information indicative of the angle of side-slope of the predicted path generated by the side-slope detection system.

Vehicles such as a combustion engine, electric, and/or hybrid electric vehicles and methods of operation, which include controller(s) configured to respond to cruise control signals, and to generate a route efficiency profile according to instantaneous vehicle performance parameters and environmental conditions. The controller(s) are also modified to adjust a vehicle cruise speed according to the signal and profile, to enable reaching at least one designated destination in a minimum time, and whereby vehicle range is extended to the destination, while one or more reserve energy limits of battery power and fuel are maintained. The controller(s) are also adapted to detect instantaneous feedback signals that include the performance parameters and environmental conditions, and to generate error signals according to an actual vehicle watt-hour per mile efficiency and the route efficiency profile. The controller(s) adjust the cruise speed adaptively according to the error signal, such that error signal magnitude is reduced.