A vehicle includes: an electric motor; a storage battery configured to supply electric power to the electric motor and be charged with electric power from an external power source; an internal combustion engine configured to rotate the electric motor; and a controller configured to perform an electric power generation control and a prohibition control, the internal combustion engine being prohibited in a case where the vehicle is positioned in a predetermined region, wherein the electric power stored in the storage battery is suppliable to an outside, and the controller is configured to permit driving of the internal combustion engine even in the predetermined region in a case where a supply of electric power is insufficient for an electric power demand in the predetermined region or in a case where the supply of the electric power is predicted to be insufficient for the electric power demand in the predetermined region.

A vehicle includes a detection section and a automated drive controller. The detection section detects actual behavior of the vehicle. The automated drive controller generates a automated drive action plan for the vehicle, issues an instruction relating to behavior of the vehicle based on the generated action plan to a drive source controller that controls a drive source of the vehicle, and compares predicted behavior of the vehicle predicted based on the issued instruction and actual behavior of the vehicle detected by the detection section. In cases where the predicted behavior of the vehicle and the actual behavior of the vehicle detected by the detection section differ from each other by more than a preset range, the automated drive controller issues an instruction to decelerate the vehicle to a brake device of the vehicle.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A hybrid drivetrain for a hybrid-driven vehicle, having an internal combustion engine which outputs to vehicle wheels via a load path, in which a dual-mass flywheel is connected, which has flywheel masses elastically coupled via spring assemblies, and at least one electric machine, which can be coupled with respect to drive into the load path via an automatic transmission, wherein a drive torque (MBKM) from the internal combustion engine and a drive torque (MEM) from the electric machine can be added together with power addition in the automatic transmission to form a total drive torque, using which the vehicle wheels are drivable, and wherein an electronic control unit, on the basis of driving mode parameters and/or a driver intention, controls and engine controller of the internal combustion engine and/or power electronics of the electric machine using target torque specifications.

A control device for a vehicle includes an opening degree sensor to detect an opening degree of a wastegate valve disposed in a bypass passage bypassing a turbine. Circuitry is configured to stop an internal combustion engine while the vehicle is driven by a motor in a motor drive mode. The circuitry is configured to calculate a target opening degree of the wastegate valve to be larger than a maximum error between the opening degree detected by the opening degree sensor and an actual opening degree of the wastegate valve. The circuitry is configured to control the wastegate valve such that the opening degree detected by the opening degree sensor is equal to the target opening degree while the vehicle is driven in the motor drive mode.

A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a hybrid vehicle combustion engine, in which method temperature of fuel and temperature outside the vehicle are compared against a first threshold below which starting of the vehicle is forbidden, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine will start without the fuel being heated. The fuel is heated by exchange of heat with a cooling circuit for the vehicle battery when the external temperature is between the two thresholds.

A control device for a vehicle is provided. The control device includes an electronic control unit that is configured to: exert the torque of an input member on a fixed member and a rotating member such that the fixed member and the rotating member are separated from each other, when the thrust is exerted for making the engagement teeth mesh with each other; estimate an inclination angle of tooth surfaces based on a relative movement amount between the fixed member and the rotating member, and a relative rotational amount between the fixed member and the rotating member; estimate a frictional coefficient of the tooth surfaces based on the inclination angle; and control the thrust of the actuator according to the frictional coefficient.

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first rotating electrical machine, a second rotating electrical machine, a pair of power lines, a first inverter, a second inverter, a battery, a converter, a voltage sensor, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that the voltage sensor is normal and perform a first evacuation running control when an output of the voltage sensor changes by the predetermined value or more while a voltage change process is carried out. The electronic control unit is configured to control the converter to a gate shutoff state, control a motive power of the engine in such a manner as to rotate the first rotating electrical machine and put the first rotating electrical machine into a regeneration state, and control the second rotating electrical machine to a power running state, as the first evacuation running control.

An electric drive direction confirmation system and method for a vehicle are provided. The system and method include receiving a gear selector input signal corresponding to a gear selection from an electronic gear selector on the vehicle, and sending a drive command to temporarily urge the vehicle in a direction corresponding to the gear selection.

An apparatus for controlling a towing mode of an electric vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a first sensor that measures a speed of the electric vehicle and a second sensor that measures a gradient of a road on which the electric vehicle is driven. A controller detects a reference output of the electric vehicle based on the speed and the gradient of the road and detects a towing weight of the electric vehicle based on an excess rate of a current output with respect to the reference output. The towing mode of the electric vehicle is then executed based on the detected towing weight.