Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.

Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.

A control device that switchably has a first drive mode which is attained with the fixing mechanism being in the non-fixing state and in which a rotational speed of the input is steplessly shifted and transmitted to the output and torque of the second rotating electrical machine is transmitted to the output, and a second drive mode which is attained with the fixing mechanism being in the fixing state and the decoupling mechanism being in the non-transmitting state and in which, with the second rotating electrical machine being decoupled from the output, the rotational speed of the input is shifted according to a gear ratio of the differential gear unit and transmitted to the output.

A system and method of utilizing a power boost feature is disclosed. The power boost feature enables the vehicle to produce a greater amount of power when needed, for example, to provide launch assist or overtake assist in a vehicle. A power boost request processor may receive information from a plurality of information systems of the vehicle, including, for example, vehicle mass, enablement of an accelerator pedal kick down switch, an amount of time passed between power boost system functions as communicated by a timer, operation and/or status of a cooling system, system enablement, transmission enablement, vehicle speed, position of an accelerator pedal, grade of the road as communicated by a road-grade sensor, actual vehicle power, actual available vehicle power, available battery power, look ahead information, powertrain health, route information, existence of emission zones, weather, and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system (200) for an electric machine (120) of a vehicle, the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system comprising input means (230) to receive a torque communication signal (255) indicative of torque communication through a belt (130) associated with the electric machine, processing means (210) arranged to determine a torque limit for the electric machine in dependence on the torque communication signal and a first torque threshold, and output means (240) arranged to output a torque limit signal (245) in dependence on the torque limit to control the torque communicated through the belt associated with the electric machine.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system (200) for an electric machine (120) of a vehicle, the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system comprising input means (230) to receive a torque communication signal (255) indicative of torque communication through a belt (130) associated with the electric machine, processing means (210) arranged to determine a torque limit for the electric machine in dependence on the torque communication signal and a first torque threshold, and output means (240) arranged to output a torque limit signal (245) in dependence on the torque limit to control the torque communicated through the belt associated with the electric machine.

A control system for a vehicle having two motors is provided to limit damage on rotary members even if an excessive torque is applied from drive wheels. The control system comprises a first motor, a second motor, and a locking mechanism, and a differential mechanism disposed between the first motor and the drive wheels. The locking mechanism halts one of rotary elements of a differential mechanism when torque of the rotary member is small, and allows the rotary element to rotate when the torque of the rotary member is large. A controller is configured to increase power output of the first motor and decrease power output of the second motor during propulsion on an uneven road surface.

A hybrid vehicle includes a differential portion including a motor generator, an electric power storage device exchanging electric power with the motor generator included in the differential portion, a gear type transmission provided in a powertrain between a rotation shaft of the motor generator and a drive wheel, and a control device controlling torque of the motor generator during gear shifting in the transmission. A restriction value for a rate of change in torque of the motor generator while a temperature of the electric power storage device is low is smaller than the restriction value while the temperature of the electric power storage device is high.

A hybrid vehicle includes a differential portion including a motor generator, an electric power storage device exchanging electric power with the motor generator included in the differential portion, a gear type transmission provided in a powertrain between a rotation shaft of the motor generator and a drive wheel, and a control device controlling torque of the motor generator during gear shifting in the transmission. A restriction value for a rate of change in torque of the motor generator while a temperature of the electric power storage device is low is smaller than the restriction value while the temperature of the electric power storage device is high.

A control device for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to set a share ratio of driving force of the first electric motor and the second electric motor. The electronic control unit is configured to set the share ratio of the driving force such that when the temperature of a pinion gear in a planetary gear mechanism is higher than a specified temperature, the share ratio of the driving force of the first electric motor is lower than the share ratio when the temperature is lower than the specified temperature.