A system for operating a vehicle, which has an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, a front axle with front wheels, a rear axle with rear wheels and a battery. The system is provided that the electric machine is in a direct force-acting relationship to the rear axle. The system includes at least one primary clutch arrangement, via which the electric machine can be connected to the wheels of at least one axle, and a secondary clutch arrangement via which the electric machine can be connected to the internal combustion engine. For starting the internal combustion engine, the electric machine is to be separated from the wheels of the at least one axle via the at least one primary clutch arrangement and is to be connected to the internal combustion engine via the secondary clutch arrangement.

A hybrid transmission (18) for a motor vehicle drive train (12) of a motor vehicle (10) includes: a first transmission input shaft (24) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to an internal combustion engine (16); a second transmission input shaft (26) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a first electric prime mover (14); an output shaft (28) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a drive output (32); a planetary gear set (RS) connected to the second transmission input shaft and to the output shaft; spur gear pairs (ST1, ST2, ST3) arranged in multiple gear set planes for forming gear steps; and a plurality of gear change devices with shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) for engaging gear steps. The output shaft is of a countershaft design, and the planetary gear set is interlockable when decoupled from the first transmission input shaft.

A hybrid transmission (18) for a motor vehicle drive train (12) of a motor vehicle (10) includes: a first transmission input shaft (24) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to an internal combustion engine (16); a second transmission input shaft (26) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a first electric prime mover (14); an output shaft (28) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a drive output (32); a planetary gear set (RS) connected to the second transmission input shaft and to the output shaft; spur gear pairs (ST1, ST2, ST3) arranged in multiple gear set planes for forming gear steps; and a plurality of gear change devices with shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) for engaging gear steps. The output shaft is of a countershaft design, and the planetary gear set is interlockable when decoupled from the first transmission input shaft.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a method and to a control system for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine configured to provide torque to a first axle of the vehicle for generating first axle wheel torque, and an electric machine configured to provide torque to a second axle of the vehicle for generating second axle wheel torque, the method comprising: outputting a torque request for the engine and a torque request for the electric machine, the torque requests having a first ratio dependent on a required torque split between the first axle wheel torque and the second axle wheel torque, wherein received first axle wheel torque and received second axle wheel torque have a second variable ratio dependent on a difference between wheel torque response capabilities of the engine and of the electric machine; determining that a trigger condition is satisfied; and controlling, in dependence on satisfaction of the trigger condition, determination of the torque request for the electric machine such that deviation of the second ratio from the first ratio is inhibited.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an electric machine control system for a vehicle, the electric machine control system comprising one or more controllers, wherein the vehicle comprises an electric machine arranged to be selectively coupleable to provide torque to at least one wheel of an axle of the vehicle, the control system comprising input means to receive at least one attribute signal indicative of one or more attributes (410, 420, 430) of the vehicle and an efficiency signal (440) indicative of selection of an efficiency-based driving mode, output means arranged to output a coupling signal to control coupling of the electric machine to the at least one wheel of the axle, processing means arranged to determine (1510) a first coupling state of the electric machine to the at least one wheel of the axle in dependence on the at least one attribute signal and to determine (1520) a second coupling state of the electric machine to the at least one wheel of the axle in dependence on the at least one efficiency signal, wherein the processing means is arranged to control (1540) the output means to output the coupling signal indicative of the first and second coupling states when the same, and to output (1550) the coupling signal indicative of the first coupling state when the determined first and second coupling states differ.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a control system 208 and method for controlling energy management of a traction battery 200 of a hybrid electric vehicle 10, the traction battery 200 configured to power at least one traction motor 212 coupled to an electric-only axle 213 of the vehicle 10 to provide all-wheel drive, the control system 208 comprising one or more electronic controllers 300, the one or more electronic controllers 300 configured to: determine a change of terrain mode and/or type for the vehicle and/or determine an increase in loading of the vehicle 10; select an energy management control strategy for the traction battery 200 of the vehicle 10 in dependence on the determined change in terrain mode and/or type and/or the determined increase in loading of the vehicle 10, wherein the traction battery 200 is configured to supply power to the at least one traction motor 212 to provide torque to the electric-only axle 213 of the vehicle 10 to enable the vehicle 10 to operate in an all-wheel drive mode, wherein selecting an energy management control strategy of the vehicle 10 comprises at least one of: selecting or adjusting a charge sustain set point 30 for the traction battery 200; and changing energy generation to recharge the traction battery 200.

A driving force control system for a vehicle is provided to control a torque vectoring device is provided. A controller is configured to bring the torque vectoring device into a preparatory state in which the differential torque and the differential limit torque are equalized to each other when shifting the operating mode between the differential mode and the differential limit mode, and to shift the operating mode of the torque vectoring device by gradually reducing a difference between the differential torque and the differential limit torque.

Methods and systems for a vehicle transmission are provided herein. The vehicle transmission includes an input interface configured to mechanically couple to a motive power source. The vehicle transmission further includes a first disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a first output to a first drive axle and a second disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a second output to a second drive axle.

Methods and systems for a vehicle transmission are provided herein. The vehicle transmission includes an input interface configured to mechanically couple to a motive power source. The vehicle transmission further includes a first disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a first output to a first drive axle and a second disconnect device releasably mechanically coupling a second output to a second drive axle.

Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a lower gear range to a higher gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a lower gear range to a higher gear range in a way that may reduce torque disturbances that may result from gear lash.