Disclosed is a method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a transmission, an engine, and first and second drive motors. The method includes: performing charging through the first drive motor using the power of the engine by engaging an engine clutch disposed between the engine and the first drive motor while a vehicle is stopped with the gear stage shifted to the parking (P) range; turning off the engine and controlling the clutch of the transmission to enter an open state when the gear stage is shifted to the driving (D) range; and commencing movement of the vehicle using the second drive motor alone or using at least one of the first drive motor or the engine together with the second drive motor based on at least one of requested torque, available torque of the second drive motor, or the speed of the first drive motor.

A method for managing electrical Key Off Load (KOL) and other potentially damaging operational conditions in a vehicle while in a neutral mode setting, comprising: determining a vehicle drivetrain is in the neutral mode setting; determining an operational characteristic that changes with time while the vehicle is in the neutral mode setting; performing, via a vehicle control module and based on the neutral mode setting and the operational characteristic, vehicle actions comprising engaging an automated start powertrain activation while the vehicle is in the neutral mode setting.

Systems, apparatus and methods may be configured to implement actively-controlled light emission from a robotic vehicle. A light emitter(s) of the robotic vehicle may be configurable to indicate a direction of travel of the robotic vehicle and/or display information (e.g., a greeting, a notice, a message, a graphic, passenger/customer/client content, vehicle livery, customized livery) using one or more colors of emitted light (e.g., orange for a first direction and purple for a second direction), one or more sequences of emitted light (e.g., a moving image/graphic), or positions of light emitter(s) on the robotic vehicle (e.g., symmetrically positioned light emitters). The robotic vehicle may not have a front or a back (e.g., a trunk/a hood) and may be configured to travel bi-directionally, in a first direction or a second direction (e.g., opposite the first direction), with the direction of travel being indicated by one or more of the light emitters.

A control unit for a hybrid drive of a vehicle is provided. The hybrid drive includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine. The hybrid drive is designed in such a way that the electric machine is used for providing a drive torque of the vehicle and for starting the internal combustion engine. The control unit is configured to predict a start time, at which at least a part of the total power of the electric machine is available for a starting process of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to start the internal combustion engine at the predicted start time by way of the electric machine.

A control device for a vehicle having: an engine; and a variator arranged downstream of the engine in a power transmission path connecting the engine and drive wheels, wherein the control device for the vehicle has a controller that executes a low standby control which downshifts the variator by moving a belt of the variator in a vertical direction (radial direction) during stopping of the vehicle. After starting the low standby control, the controller releases an output limit of the engine based on an actual secondary pressure of the variator.

An electrified fire fighting vehicle includes a chassis, a cab coupled to the chassis, a body coupled to the chassis, a front axle coupled to the chassis, a rear axle coupled to the chassis, a water tank supported by the chassis, an energy storage system coupled to the chassis and positioned rearward of the cab, a water pump supported by the chassis, and an electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the energy storage system. The electromagnetic device is coupled to the water pump and at least one of the front axle or the rear axle. The electromagnetic device is configured to receive stored energy from the energy storage system and provide a mechanical output to selectively drive the water pump and the at least one of the front axle or the rear axle.

A system and method for power management of hybrid electric vehicles is provided. In some implementations, a plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle may include an engine, a motor/generator (MG), a traction motor, an energy storage device, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the engine and the MG to control operation of the engine and the MG such that a state-of-charge (SOC) of the energy storage device tracks a dynamic reference SOC profile during a trip and an average engine power (AEP) is maintained above a threshold. In some instances, maintaining AEP above a threshold supports emission control of the vehicle.

A method of controlling stability of a vehicle and a stability control system for the vehicle. A driver command is determined based on driver input data. At least one output command is sent to one or more vehicle systems to control stability of the vehicle based on the driver command. A controller sends the output command based on a control hierarchy that provides an order in which the controller controls body motion of the vehicle, wheel slip of the vehicle, and standard stability of the vehicle to control stability of the vehicle. The order dictates that the controller controls the body motion of the vehicle and the wheel slip of the vehicle before the controller controls the standard stability of the vehicle. A state of one or more of the vehicle systems is controlled based on the sent output command as dictated via the control hierarchy.

A vehicle includes a drive source that supplies a driving force to a drive wheel, a switch, and a controller that puts a first limitation on the driving force or puts a second limitation on the driving force when the switch is operated, the second limitation being smaller than the first limitation.

The braking force control device detects an impossible state where one or some of the actuators are temporarily unable to generate a negative driving force, and a predictive state where one or some of the actuators are predicted to become unable to generate a negative driving force. Every time the coasting state occurs before establishment of the impossible state and after establishment of the predictive state, the braking force control device gradually increases the negative driving force generated by the corresponding one or ones of the actuators. Even when the coasting state occurs in the impossible state, the braking force control device does not cause the corresponding one or ones of the actuators to generate a driving force. Every time the coasting state occurs after the impossible state, the braking force control device gradually decreases the negative driving force generated by the corresponding one or ones of the actuators.