A method of thickening cosmetics containing a crosslinked water-swellable polymer, or a microgel obtained by pulverizing a hydrophilic compound having gelation ability. The method comprises adding a linear polyacrylic acid or a salt thereof, or a linear poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) or a salt thereof, having a weight-average molecular weight of 500,000 to 8,000,000, which has a thread length of 10 mm or less at room temperature when formed into a 1% by mass solution. The method provides cosmetics having an improved viscoelastic ratio, with a rich and full-bodied feeling upon application.

A fire fighting vehicle includes a front axle, a rear axle, an energy storage system, an engine, a first motor/generator, and a second motor/generator. In a first mode, (a) the engine is off and (b) at least one of the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator uses stored energy in the energy storage system to drive at least one of the front axle or the rear axle. In a second mode, (a) the engine provides a mechanical input the first motor/generator, (b) the first motor/generator uses the mechanical input to generate electricity, (c) the second motor/generator uses the electricity to drive at least one of the front axle or the rear axle. Any electricity generated by either the first motor/generator or second motor/generator in response to the mechanical input from the engine is never provided to the energy storage system to charge the energy storage system.

A fire fighting vehicle includes a front axle, a rear axle, an energy storage system, an engine, a first motor/generator, and a second motor/generator. In a first mode, (a) the engine is off and (b) at least one of the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator uses stored energy in the energy storage system to drive at least one of the front axle or the rear axle. In a second mode, (a) the engine provides a mechanical input the first motor/generator, (b) the first motor/generator uses the mechanical input to generate electricity, (c) the second motor/generator uses the electricity to drive at least one of the front axle or the rear axle. Any electricity generated by either the first motor/generator or second motor/generator in response to the mechanical input from the engine is never provided to the energy storage system to charge the energy storage system.

A control system for a hybrid vehicle includes: an electric heater configured to heat a catalyst of an internal combustion engine; a position determination unit configured to determine whether the hybrid vehicle is located in an exit area of a low emission zone where operation of the internal combustion engine is supposed to be restricted, the exit area being an area adjacent to a boundary of the low emission zone; and a heater control unit configured to turn on the electric heater when the position determination unit determines that the hybrid vehicle is located in the exit area.

A processor unit (3) is configured for executing an MPC algorithm (13) for model predictive control of a motor vehicle (1). The MPC algorithm (13) includes a longitudinal dynamic model (14) of the motor vehicle (1) and a cost function (15) to be minimized. The cost function (15) includes multiple terms, a first term of which represents an output of the cooling pump (28). In addition, the processor unit (3) is configured for, by executing the MPC algorithm (13) as a function of the longitudinal dynamic model (14), ascertaining a speed trajectory of the motor vehicle (1) situated within a prediction horizon and simultaneously ascertaining a pump operating value trajectory situated within the prediction horizon such that the first term of the cost function (15) is minimized.

A system and method for power management of hybrid electric vehicles is provided. In some implementations, a plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle may include an engine, a motor/generator (MG), a traction motor, an energy storage device, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the engine and the MG to control operation of the engine and the MG such that a state-of-charge (SOC) of the energy storage device tracks a dynamic reference SOC profile during a trip and an average engine power (AEP) is maintained above a threshold. In some instances, maintaining AEP above a threshold supports emission control of the vehicle.

When an adjustment target road in which a state of charge of the battery needs to be actively adjusted such as a congested road or a downhill road has been detected in the travel route based on the look-ahead information, the travel support control device performs state-of-charge adjustment control up to the adjustment target road. The travel support control device detects the adjustment target road based on look-ahead information generated for an estimated route on which it is estimated that the hybrid vehicle is to travel when the travel route has not been set, and performs the state-of-charge adjustment control up to the adjustment target road when the adjustment target road has been detected. At this time, a detection range for detecting a congested road and a detection range for detecting a downhill road in the estimated route are different.

When an adjustment target road in which a state of charge of the battery needs to be actively adjusted such as a congested road or a downhill road has been detected in the travel route based on the look-ahead information, the travel support control device performs state-of-charge adjustment control up to the adjustment target road. The travel support control device detects the adjustment target road based on look-ahead information generated for an estimated route on which it is estimated that the hybrid vehicle is to travel when the travel route has not been set, and performs the state-of-charge adjustment control up to the adjustment target road when the adjustment target road has been detected. At this time, a detection range for detecting a congested road and a detection range for detecting a downhill road in the estimated route are different.

A travel support control device: creates a travel support plan in which one of travel modes including a CD mode and a CS mode is assigned to each travel section based on look-ahead information generated for a travel route to allow a hybrid electric vehicle to travel and calculates a total distance of electric traveling on the travel route; creates a travel support plan for travel sections to a travel section immediately before an information non-acquirable area in which information required for creating the look-ahead information is not acquirable and calculates the total distance of electric traveling on the travel route, when the information non-acquirable area is included in the travel route; and stops switching of the travel mode based on travel support control and continuously calculates the total distance of electric traveling on the travel route, when the hybrid electric vehicle is traveling in the information non-acquirable area.

A travel support control device: creates a travel support plan in which one of travel modes including a CD mode and a CS mode is assigned to each travel section based on look-ahead information generated for a travel route to allow a hybrid electric vehicle to travel and calculates a total distance of electric traveling on the travel route; creates a travel support plan for travel sections to a travel section immediately before an information non-acquirable area in which information required for creating the look-ahead information is not acquirable and calculates the total distance of electric traveling on the travel route, when the information non-acquirable area is included in the travel route; and stops switching of the travel mode based on travel support control and continuously calculates the total distance of electric traveling on the travel route, when the hybrid electric vehicle is traveling in the information non-acquirable area.