A vehicle includes a step-ratio automatic transmission having clutches engageable to provide forward and reverse gears, an electric machine selectively coupled to the transmission, a main pump powered by the electric machine and supplying oil to actuate selected transmission clutches, a gear selector configured for selecting a transmission gear, and a controller configured to stop the electric machine when the gear selector selects park or neutral, to operate the electric machine in a speed control mode using a higher controller gain in response to the gear selector selecting forward or reverse while the electric machine is stopped until the electric machine and the main pump reach a first speed threshold to reduce engagement delay of at least one of the transmission clutches, and to operate the electric machine using a lower controller gain when the electric machine and the main pump exceed the first speed threshold.

A method of controlling a mode transition of a hybrid vehicle includes determining whether a mode transition from a first mode to a second mode is required based on a first torque, the first torque being a current required torque. A second torque, which is a required torque expected to be generated at a near-future time from a current time, is also determined. A predicted gear shift time point and a predicted engagement time point of an engine clutch are determined based on the second torque. The mode transition to the second mode is performed when it is determined that the mode transition to the second mode is required and the predicted engagement time point is earlier than the predicted gear shift time point.

A drive train for a vehicle comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, a first planetary gearing unit, a second planetary gearing unit and a third planetary gearing unit, each having a sun wheel, a carrier wheel and an annulus. The carrier wheel of the first planetary gearing unit is coupled to the sun wheel of the second planetary gearing unit. The annulus of the first planetary gearing unit is coupled to the carrier wheel of the second planetary gearing unit and to the annulus of the third planetary gearing unit. The annulus of the second planetary gearing unit is coupled to the carrier wheel of the third planetary gearing unit. The drive train has a first clutch device and a second clutch device, wherein the first and second clutch devices are connected by input sides thereof to the input shaft. The drive train has a first braking device, a second braking device and a third braking device. The drive train further includes an electric machine having an output coupled to the sun wheel of the first planetary gearing unit and to the first braking device.

A transmission device for a hybrid vehicle including: a plurality of shift dog clutches each arranged to selectively engage the movable side gear of one of the shift gear rows with the other of the main shaft and the counter shaft; a main clutch disposed between the internal combustion engine and the main shaft; a first motor gear disposed to be raced with respect to a motor output shaft connected to the motor, and constantly interlocked with the main shaft; a second motor gear disposed to be raced with respect to the motor output shaft, and constantly interlocked with the counter shaft; a motor dog clutch arranged to selectively engage one of the first and second motor gears with the motor output shaft; and a controller configured to control actuations of the shift dog clutch, the main clutch, and the motor dog clutch.

A method for starting a combustion engine fitted to a hybrid or dual-mode motor vehicle includes starting an additional motor upon a setpoint torque demanded by a driver of the vehicle, with a view to accelerating the vehicle beyond a threshold speed at which the combustion engine is driven beyond a stalling speed threshold when the combustion engine is mechanically coupled to wheels of the vehicle.

Provided is a control device for a hybrid vehicle including a controller that performs a control of the hybrid vehicle including an engine and an electric motor that serve as driving sources, a transmission, and first and second clutches. The first clutch is provided between the engine and the transmission. The second clutch is provided between the transmission and driving wheels. The controller includes first and second control units. The first control unit performs a control, in a motor traveling mode, to bring the first clutch to a disengaged state. The motor traveling mode includes traveling solely with the electric motor being driven. The second control unit performs a control, in the motor traveling mode, to bring the second clutch to a mildly engaged state in which input, from the driving-wheel side, of torque larger than driving torque causes the second clutch to slide.

Systems and methods for improving operation of an engine are presented. In one example, a position of a throttle is adjusted along with other actuators to improve engine starting.

A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the gear set, a second motor/generator at least selectively rotationally engaged with the gear set, and an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and at least selectively coupled to the second motor/generator. The second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator by an electrical power transmission system. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electrical machine. A drive shaft of the internal combustion engine can be coupled to a machine shaft of the electrical machine by a shift clutch. The shift clutch is opened in a first shift state for decoupling the internal combustion engine and the electrical machine, and is closed in a second shift state for coupling the internal combustion engine and the electrical machine. When a switching occurs from the first shift state to the second shift state, a clutch target torque that is set at the shift clutch is determined in a first mode of operation by a closed-loop control, and in a second mode of operation is determined by an open-loop control.

A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain, comprising a combustion engine; a gearbox with an input shaft connected to the combustion engine and an output shaft; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft a second planetary gear connected to the first planetary gear; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; first gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft; and second gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft. The method comprises: a) engaging gears corresponding to the first gear pair and to the second gear pair; and b) connecting a second sun wheel, arranged in the second planetary gear and a second planetary wheel carrier with each other, with the use of a second coupling device.