The present invention provides a method for controlling an engine unit in a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine unit, a transmission unit adapted to selectively couple with the engine unit and also configured to transmit the power generated by the engine unit, a first motor generator coupled with the transmission unit, an output unit, a power switching device, a second motor generator configured to drive at least one of front and rear wheels, and a power battery that is respectively connected to the first motor generator and the second motor generator. The method includes: acquiring an operating mode of a vehicle and an operating parameter of the vehicle; and controlling an engine unit according to an operating parameter and an operating mode to start or stop.

A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain, comprising: a) engaging a gear corresponding to either a gear pair connected with a first planetary gear in the gearbox or corresponding to a gear pair connected with a second planetary gear and an output shaft; b) selecting a gear by connecting two rotatable components in the first planetary gear with each other, via a first coupling device and/or connecting two rotatable components in the second planetary gear with each other, via a second coupling device; and c) controlling a switch such that a first electrical machine is set into a waiting state, if the second coupling device connects the two rotatable components of the second planetary gear with each other, and such that a second electrical machine is set into a waiting state, if the first coupling device connects the two rotatable components of the first planetary gear with each other.

A rotary shifter with 360 rotation in each of clockwise and counter clockwise rotating directions. The shifter includes a package housing with a bezel cover. A cylindrical shaped plunger housing is secured to a rotary knob supported atop the housing and which is selectively rotatable in the clockwise direction from a Park gear position, in succession, to each of a Reverse gear position, a Neutral gear position and at least one Drive gear position, with further clockwise rotation preventing movement beyond a final one of the Drive gear positions. The knob is further selectively rotatable in a counter clockwise direction to return to the Park gear position, with additional permitted counter-clockwise rotation retaining the shifter in the Park gear position.

A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain, comprising a combustion engine; a gearbox with input and output shafts, which combustion engine is connected to the input 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 respectfully connected to the first and second planetary gears; first gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and output shaft; and second gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and output shaft. The method comprises: a) engaging gears in the first and second gear pairs; and b) connecting two rotatable components in the second planetary gear with a second coupling device.

At least one electric motor is employed for propelling an electric or hybrid vehicle with a shiftable transmission. Upon reaching a shift threshold, a shift operation is performed in the transmission of the vehicle, wherein a value specifying the shift threshold is varied depending on at least one parameter. As the at least one parameter, a speed is used, at which a power provided by the at least one electric motor for propelling the vehicle has a maximum.

A rear-wheel drive apparatus of an eco-friendly vehicle is capable of improving the longitudinal driving force and handling performance of a vehicle by independently driving both rear wheels of the vehicle using a plurality of drive motors.

Electric machine assemblies and methods of manufacturing and operating electric machine assemblies for internal combustion engines are provided. The electric machine assembly includes an electric machine configured to generate electric current by induction via a prime mover causing rotation of one of a rotor and a stator with respect to the other one of the rotor and the stator. The electric machine assembly also includes a torque transmitter including a rotating output driver coupled to the prime mover of the electric machine. The torque transmitter includes a rotating input driver configured to receive a rotary input transmitted from a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The rotating input driver is coupled to the rotating output driver to actuate the rotating output driver at a plurality of gear ratios.

A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a low temperature time hydraulic control section (11a) to perform a low temperature time hydraulic control to restrain a discharge quantity of operating oil from an oil pump (4) by limiting a line pressure of a transmission (7) at an engine cold time to a predetermined value smaller than a maximum value of a line pressure command pressure for a predetermined time period. The hydraulic control by this low temperature time hydraulic control section (11a) is continued until the motor is started after the start of the engine and a first clutch (3) is engaged at the time of low temperature of engine (1). By so doing, the control apparatus can prevent the oil pump from being stopped by inappropriate starting timing of the low temperature time hydraulic control.

A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain comprising engaging gears corresponding to a first gear pair connected with a first planetary gear in a gearbox with a first coupling device connecting two rotatable components in the first planetary gear; activating a second electrical machine to generate a propulsion torque on the output shaft via a second gear pair connected with a second planetary gear and the output shaft; disconnecting the first gear pair from the countershaft, by controlling the first electrical machine and a combustion engine connected with the first planetary gear to achieve a substantially zero torque state between the first gear pair; connecting the first gear pair to the countershaft, by controlling the combustion engine to achieve a synchronous rotational speed between the first gear pair; and activating the combustion engine and/or the first electrical machine to generate a propulsion torque on the output shaft.

A hybrid vehicle includes powertrain components such as an engine, an automatic transmission, and a traction motor selectively coupled to the engine via a clutch and to the transmission. At least one controller is programmed to control these powertrain components. The vehicle is driven over a drive cycle that includes multiple engine starts and transmission gear shifts. An amount of fuel consumption used during these engine starts and transmissions gear shifts is stored on an on-board storage device. Subsequently, the engine is inhibited from starting and the transmission is inhibited from shifting gears based on the amount of fuel consumption associated with the engine starts and transmission gear shifts performed during the drive cycle as recalled from the storage device.