A controller for a driving force transmitting apparatus mounted in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, includes: a driving force controller configured to calculate a command torque indicating a driving force to be transmitted to the sub-drive wheels via the driving force transmitting apparatus based on a traveling state of the four-wheel-drive vehicle and a road surface condition, and to control the driving force transmitting apparatus based on the command torque; and a road surface condition determiner configured to determine that the road surface condition is a high- condition when a duration of a non-slipping state where a vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a prescribed value and a slip ratio of each of both the main drive wheels is lower than a prescribed value has become equal to or longer than a prescribed time.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a control system for controlling torque distribution between a first axle (110) and a second axle (120) in a vehicle (100), the control system comprising one or more controllers. The control system is configured to detect that the vehicle is in overrun and detect the vehicle speed. When the vehicle is in overrun and the vehicle speed is below a first speed threshold then the torque distribution is controlled to reduce overrun torque to the first axle and to increase overrun torque to the second axle. The vehicle may be a hybrid vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine (ICE) (201), a belt integrated starter generator (B-ISG) (205) and an electric rear axle drive (ERAD) (204).

A method for controlling an electric four wheel drive hybrid vehicle includes steps of: receiving, by a controller, a longitudinal acceleration of the hybrid vehicle corresponding to a demand torque of a driver of the hybrid vehicle; and determining, by the controller, a torque distribution ratio between a front wheel drive torque and a rear wheel drive torque of the hybrid vehicle based on a weight moving ratio of the hybrid vehicle corresponding to the received longitudinal acceleration.

A vehicle includes a first axle, second axle, driveshaft, engine, clutch, and controller. The first and second axles are coupled by the driveshaft. The engine is configured to generate torque in the first axle. The clutch is configured to disconnect an output of the second axle. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a clutch release request that would result in an increasing commanded torque to the first axle being greater than a threshold, decrease an engine torque such that a first axle torque is less than the threshold.

A method and system of controlling a configuration of a vehicle power-assisted steering (PAS) system is provided. The method includes detecting at a vehicle a change between two-wheel-drive driveline operation and four-wheel-drive driveline operation; accessing a pre-defined PAS profile stored at the vehicle based on the detected change; and operating the vehicle PAS system using at least one variable included in the PAS profile in response to the detected change in driveline operation.

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline operation may be adjusted in response to operating the hybrid vehicle in a four wheel drivel low gear range. The approaches may improve vehicle drivability and reduce driveline degradation.

A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a vehicle. A first axle is operatively connected permanently and a second axle is operatively connected at least intermittently via a clutch to a drive device. For the second axle coupled to the drive device, a maximum torque of the drive device is reduced by a specific safety value. At drive start, the safety value is set to a specific initial value and subsequently is reduced or increased throughout a specific period of time.

In a control system and control method for a driving device, opposite distribution control is performed (e.g., steps 1, 4 to 7), whereby a left driving force and a right driving force are controlled such that a yaw moment in a direction opposite to a turning direction of the vehicle acts on the vehicle, whereby a left-right driving force difference is generated which is a difference between the left driving force and the right driving force. During performance of the opposite distribution control, when deceleration of the vehicle is obtained, limit control is performed (e.g., step 8), whereby the left driving force and the right driving force are controlled such that a change in the left-right driving force difference becomes smaller than a change in a left-right driving force sum, which is the sum of the left driving force and the right driving force.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A chassis control system of a vehicle includes: a first torque source providing torque to a first axle of the vehicle; a second torque source providing torque to a second axle of the vehicle independently of the first torque source; and a vehicle control module controlling the first and second torque sources to transition between a torque redistribution and torque limit control modes based on a wheel torque redistribution threshold, a wheel torque limit of the first axle and/or second axle, and a torque limit of one of the first and second torque sources. The torque redistribution mode refers to when torque is being selectively provided to the first axle by the first torque source and to the second axle by the second torque source. The torque limit control mode refers to when torque to at least one of first axle and the second axle is limited.