The disclosure is directed at an apparatus for an active converter dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a system to connect a first trailer towed behind a towing vehicle to a second trailer. The apparatus further includes a kinetic energy recovery device for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer. The active dolly is operable in a number of modes to increase vehicle performance and efficiency.

A hybrid vehicle includes a generator, a driving motor, and a battery. The control system includes the hybrid vehicle, and a controller for controlling the generator and the driving motor. The controller calculates a battery output request value and a power-generating output request value based on traveling conditions of the vehicle, and controls the driving motor and the power generator based on these values. At this time, when a state of the battery is a state in which the power-generating output request value is not satisfied, the controller executes an adjustment process for adjusting the battery output request value and the power-generating output request value. In the adjustment process, the smaller the remaining capacity of the battery, the smaller the battery output request value is and the larger the power-generating output request value is.

The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for an active convertor dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a system to connect a tractor to a trailer. The apparatus further includes a charge generating system for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer.

Proposed is a method of virtualizing characteristics of an internal combustion engine vehicle in an electric vehicle, the method including obtaining, by a controller, powertrain state information for a vehicle powertrain including a motor that makes a vehicle move and a power transmission device between the motor and driving wheels, determining, by the controller, tooth surface pressures of gears in the powertrain between the motor and the driving wheels based on the obtained powertrain state information, generating, by the controller, a virtual effect signal for generating a virtual effect that simulates powertrain characteristics of the internal combustion engine vehicle based on the determined tooth surface pressures of the gears in the powertrain, and generating, by the controller, the virtual effect that simulates the powertrain characteristics of the internal combustion engine vehicle.

A vehicle control system is provided with a motor generator and has a function of, if a vehicle-stop brake fluid pressure at a vehicle stop timing is less a predetermined pressure necessary for holding a vehicle in a stopped state, boosting the vehicle-stop brake fluid pressure to the stop holding fluid pressure or greater to hold the vehicle in the stopped state. The system includes a first calculator, a second calculator, and a vehicle stop controller. The first calculator calculates a target driving force for the vehicle. The second calculator calculates, from the target driving force, a requested driving force for drive control of the motor generator and a requested brake fluid pressure to be used for brake control. The vehicle stop controller performs, at a timing immediately before the vehicle stop timing, a pre-boosting process of increasing the brake fluid pressure to the stop holding fluid pressure or greater.

A vehicle vibration control device includes: a motor generator connected via a motor shaft to a power transmission path between a crankshaft of an engine and a drive axle that transmits a drive torque to a tire; and a motor generator control portion executing control of an output torque which is actually output by the motor generator. The motor generator control portion includes a damper torque calculation section that acquires information on a crank angle and a motor angle to calculate a damper torque generated by a damper, an explosion cycle calculation section, a reverse phase torque calculation section, a delay time calculation section, a compensation time calculation section, a first compensation time calculation section, a torque correction amount calculation section, and a command output section.

Methods and systems are provided for reliably providing a prognosis of the life-expectancy of a vehicle battery. A state of degradation of the battery is predicted based on a rate of convergence of a metric, that is derived from a sensed vehicle operating parameter, towards a defined threshold, determined based on past history of the metric. The predicted state of degradation is then converted into an estimate of time or distance remaining before the component needs to serviced, and displayed to the vehicle operator. Vehicle control and communication strategies may be defined with respect to the predicted state of degradation.

A vehicle interface system configured to be arranged between a vehicle and an off-board inverter, may include a first cable configured to connect to the vehicle via a first connector; a second cable configured to connect to an inverter via a second connector; and a transceiver configured to transmit interface data to the vehicle indicating the presence of a load connected at the second connector and receive vehicle data including instructions to transmit power from the first connector to the second connector.

A system for active short circuit notification in an electric motor of a hybrid electric vehicle including a traction battery, an internal combustion engine in mechanical communication with the motor, and a propulsion system driven by the motor or engine. The system includes an inverter and inverter controller to generate signals to operate inverter switches to produce AC for the motor or DC for battery charging. In response to motor speed exceeding a threshold, the inverter controller is configured to generate signals to operate the switches to produce an active short circuit in the motor to prevent battery overcharging. In response to an active short circuit, the inverter controller is configured to transmit a notification signal to a vehicle controller configured to generate an engine stop control signal operative to stop the engine to reduce current circulation between the inverter and motor caused by the active short circuit.

A vehicle power supply apparatus includes a generator, a first electricity storage, a second electricity storage, a switch, a generator controller, and a switch controller. The generator controller controls the generator into a first electric power generation state and a second electric power generation state higher in electric power generation voltage than the first electric power generation state. The switch controller controls the switch into an electrically-conductive state and a cutoff state. The switch controller controls the switch into the electrically-conductive state and the generator controller controls the generator into the first electric power generation state when a high-load apparatus is stopped. The high-load apparatus is one of a plurality of electrical loads coupled to the first electricity storage. The switch controller controls the switch into the cutoff state and the generator controller controls the generator into the second electric power generation state when the high-load apparatus is in operation.