The present disclosure provides a system and method for determining whether to start an engine. The system includes an engine configured to provide driving force for a vehicle through combustion of fuel, a motor configured to provide driving force for the vehicle using electrical energy, an engine clutch connecting the engine and a drive shaft, and a controller configured to control engagement of the engine clutch and starting of the engine. The controller calculates a predicted vehicle speed at the time of engagement of the engine clutch based on the current vehicle speed upon a request for passive run driving of the vehicle. The controller determines whether to start the engine by comparing the predicted vehicle speed with a reference vehicle speed.

A fire fighting vehicle includes a chassis, a front axle, a rear axle, an engine, a battery system, an electromagnetic device, an accessory drive, and a controller. The accessory drive is positioned to receive a mechanical input from the engine and the electromagnetic device. The controller is configured to selectively engage a plurality of operational modes including a standby mode and a hybrid mode. According to the standby mode, the controller is configured to operate the electromagnetic device using stored energy stored in the battery system to drive the accessory drive with the engine off. According to the hybrid mode, the controller is configured to operate both the engine and the electromagnetic device.

An output torque control apparatus for hybrid vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a motor controller that adjusts motor torque, an engine controller that adjusts engine torque, and a hybrid controller that operates the motor controller and the engine controller based on driving modes of a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid controller calculates transmission input torque corresponding to current request torque, confirms whether a current driving mode an EV mode or a HEV mode, calculates inertia compensation torque corresponding to the confirmed current driving mode, and calculates output torque based on the calculated inertia compensation torque and transmission input torque. Accordingly, at least one of the motor controller or the engine controller is operated based on the calculated output torque.

An electronic control unit includes processing circuitry. A hybrid electric vehicle has an electric traveling mode, in which the hybrid electric vehicle travels with a system clutch disengaged and an engine in a stopped state, and a hybrid traveling mode, in which the hybrid electric vehicle travels with the system clutch engaged and engine operating. The processing circuitry is configured to control, when the traveling mode is switched from the electric traveling mode to the hybrid traveling mode, a throttle opening degree of the engine at the time of completion of engagement of the system clutch in accordance with the atmospheric pressure such that a constant intake air amount is obtained regardless of the level of the atmospheric pressure.

The enclosed disclosure relates to hybrid vehicles and systems with an engine, a drivetrain with a clutch and a transmission, an electric machine, and a controller. The controller receives lookahead information within a lookahead window and present state information of the hybrid vehicle. The controller determines a predicted coasting opportunity exceeding a predetermined threshold within the lookahead window and determines a cruise control reference speed, a power split between the engine and the electric machine, and a timing of enabling engine-off coasting during the coasting opportunity. The controller deactivates the engine and disengages the clutch at a start of the coasting opportunity when the engine-off coasting is enabled.

A drive switching mechanism of a utility vehicle includes: a two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device that switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive of the utility vehicle; and a control unit that controls the drive switching mechanism. The two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device switches between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive by using a first clutch. The control unit permits the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive switching device to switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive when a rotation difference of the first clutch becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

A drive system of an electric vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; a generating motor provided so as to be able to generate electricity by receiving motive force from the internal combustion engine; and a travel motor provided so as to be able to be driven by electric power generated by the generating motor, and the drive system is configured so as to be able to switch a series hybrid mode and an engine direct connected mode, the series hybrid mode being a mode in which, while the internal combustion engine and the drive wheel are linked via a first clutch so as to be unlinkable/linkable, the travel motor and the drive wheel are linked via a second clutch different from the first clutch so as to be unlinkable/linkable, and the travel motor is used as a drive power source such that the electric vehicle travels by transmitting motive force from the travel motor to the drive wheel, the engine direct connected mode being a mode in which at least one of the internal combustion engine and the generator is used as a drive power source such that the electric vehicle travels by transmitting motive force from the drive power source to the drive wheel. At a mode switching time from the engine direct connected mode to the series hybrid mode involving deceleration, when the rotation synchronization or the engagement of the second clutch on an engagement side is not completed before the vehicle speed is decelerated to a predetermined vehicle speed, the first clutch on a disengagement side is disengaged before the engagement of the second clutch is completed.

A controller for a hybrid electric vehicle. The hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a motor generator, a clutch arranged between a crankshaft and the motor generator, and a catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage. The controller includes first processing circuitry that executes a catalyst warming process that warms the catalyst under a situation in which the hybrid electric vehicle is at a standstill and second processing circuitry configured to control the clutch and the motor generator. The first processing circuitry requests the second processing circuitry to prohibit disengagement of the clutch when the catalyst warming process is executed.

To start an engine while a clutch start cancel switch is ON and a clutch is connected, an electric parking brake ECU releases an electric parking brake regardless of the accelerator position or the clutch stroke, providing that a shift lever is in a drive position, and an engine ECU allows the engine to start after the electric parking brake is released by the electric parking brake ECU.

The enclosed disclosure relates to hybrid vehicles and systems with an engine, a drivetrain with a clutch and a transmission, an electric machine, and a controller. The controller receives lookahead information within a lookahead window and present state information of the hybrid vehicle. The controller determines a predicted coasting opportunity exceeding a predetermined threshold within the lookahead window and determines a cruise control reference speed, a power split between the engine and the electric machine, and a timing of enabling engine-off coasting during the coasting opportunity. The controller deactivates the engine and disengages the clutch at a start of the coasting opportunity when the engine-off coasting is enabled.