A cruise control method for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The method includes detecting a preceding vehicle and estimating the speed of the preceding vehicle from the information input from a preceding vehicle detecting unit in the on state of a cruise mode and a PnG mode. An upper limit target vehicle speed and a lower limit target vehicle speed are determined from the estimated speed of the preceding vehicle. The driving source of the vehicle is operated to alternately repeat the acceleration (pulse phase) and deceleration (glide phase) of the vehicle between the determined upper limit target vehicle speed and lower limit target vehicle speed.

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.

Disclosed are a hybrid electric vehicle, which is capable of controlling engine starting in consideration of entry into a specific area, and method of controlling the same. A method of controlling engine starting of a hybrid vehicle includes determining whether catalyst heating is necessary, determining whether a current location corresponds to a specific area associated with exhaust emissions, determining whether a first mode driving is possible, when it is determined that the current position corresponds to the specific area and the catalyst heating is necessary, and performing the first mode driving when the first mode driving is determined to be possible, or a second mode driving when the first mode driving is determined to be impossible. Here, the first mode driving is performed by using an electric motor, and the second mode driving is performed by using at least an engine.

An energy storage and transmission system (ESRS) (69) comprises a transmission (9, 11) and an energy storage device such as a flywheel (1). While energy is being transferred between the energy storage device (1) and an energy source/sink (7), the transmission ratio of the transmission (9, 11) will usually be changing constantly. In order to manage the torque applied by the energy transfer device (1) or the power transferred, a controller (100) responds to discrepancy between the torque or power supplied and the torque or power demanded.

A vehicle control apparatus includes a deviation detector and a motor controller. The deviation detector is configured to detect a deviation of a host vehicle from a travel lane. Upon the deviation detector detecting the deviation, the motor controller is configured to increase and decrease torque of a driving motor that transfers a driving force to a wheel.

A vehicle control system includes an electric power generator, a battery, a motor for traveling which rotates a driving wheel, a traveling plan generator which generates a traveling plan in which a traveling route has been planned, an electric power generation plan generator which generates an electric power generation plan in which electric power generation by the electric power generator has been planned on the traveling route, and a plan modifier which modifies the electric power generation plan to a plan for increasing the amount of electric power to be generated by the electric power generator in one or more sections before a predetermined section when electric power generation by the electric power generator in the predetermined section having a height equal to or greater than a threshold value among one or more sections constituting the traveling route has been planned in the electric power generation plan.

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.

The technology relates to enhancing or extending the field of view of sensors for vehicles configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. One or more mirrors are used to reflect or redirect beams emitted from onboard sensors that would otherwise be wasted, for instance due to obstruction by a portion of the vehicle or because they are emitted at high pitch angles to the side. The mirrors are also used to redirect incoming beams from the external environment toward one or more of the onboard sensors. Using mirrors for such redirection can reduce or eliminate blind spots around the vehicle. A calibration system may be employed to account for mirror movement due to vibration or wind drag. Each mirror may be a front surface mirror. The mirrors may be positioned on the vehicle body, on a faring, or extending from a sensor housing on the vehicle.

A vehicle may include: a sensor configured to detect an object in a vicinity of the vehicle; a driver state detector configured to identify a driver state of a driver of the vehicle; and a controller operably coupled to the sensor and the driver state detector, the controller configured to determine whether the driver is incapable of controlling the vehicle based on the identified driver state, and to determine a driving stop position and a driving stop timing based on at least one of a type of a road on which the vehicle is driving and a driving environment of the vehicle when it is determined that the driver is incapable of controlling the vehicle.

A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a catalyst; a motor generator; and a drive control unit. The catalyst is provided in an exhaust path of the engine. The motor generator is coupled to the engine and capable of regenerating electric power. The drive control unit is configured to increase torque output from the engine and cause the motor generator to regenerate the electric power by using the torque output from the engine in the case where the hybrid vehicle is in a deceleration state and a temperature of the catalyst is lower than a specified catalyst activation temperature.