A vehicle control system to accurately control a vehicle by estimating a position of an accelerator pedal. In a first phase of an operation of the accelerator pedal in which a depression of the accelerator pedal increases, a first predicted value of a position of the accelerator pedal is calculated by a first calculation procedure based on the position of the accelerator in the first phase. In a second phase in which the change amount of the position of the accelerator plateaus, a second predicted value of the position of the accelerator pedal is calculated by a second calculation procedure based on the position of the accelerator in the second phase. In a third phase in which the change amount of the position of the accelerator decreases, the second predicted value is employed as the predicted value of the position of the accelerator pedal.

Systems and methods for operating a hybrid driveline that includes an engine, a motor/generator, and a driveline disconnect clutch are described. The systems and methods may improve vehicle efficiency while providing expected vehicle operation and performance. In one example, transmission line pressure is adjusted to match driveline disconnect clutch torque capacity to driver demand torque.

A system and method for controlling driving of a hybrid vehicle are provided. The method includes determining whether acceleration of the hybrid vehicle is predicted and increasing a conversion reference value converting a driving mode of the hybrid vehicle from an electric vehicle (EV) mode to a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode when acceleration of the hybrid vehicle is predicted.

Systems and methods changing between driveline operating modes of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, electrical output to electric power consumers is maintained during closing of a driveline disconnect clutch. Further, engine speed is controlled via a first electric machine to a speed of a second electric machine to provide smooth closing of a driveline disconnect clutch.

A method (200) for operating an electrical vehicle circuit (115) of a motor vehicle (105) includes determining that a voltage of the vehicle circuit (115) drops below a predetermined threshold value while electric current from the vehicle circuit (115) flows through a consumer (130) on board the motor vehicle (105), lowering a voltage present at the consumer (130) in order to reduce the current flowing through the consumer (130), and successively raising the voltage present at the consumer (130).

A vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine coupled to a gearbox through a torque converter. The vehicle includes a controller programmed to command an engine torque and an electric machine torque to achieve a predetermined positive torque at the input of the torque converter when a driver demand torque at the torque converter input decreases to fall within a range between the predetermined positive torque and a predetermined negative torque.

A vehicle control system to control acceleration in line with the driver's intention when depressing one of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal after releasing the other one of the pedals in one-pedal mode. The vehicle control system is configured to obtain an operating speed of one of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal returned to an initial position, set a target acceleration based on an operating amount of the other pedal depressed after releasing said one of the pedals, and increase a correction amount to correct the target acceleration if the operating speed of the returned pedal is fast.

A method actuates a vehicle drivetrain of a vehicle having a drive unit, in particular an electric motor, wherein the drivetrain has at least one first partial drivetrain which is assigned to a first output unit which transmits a torque between the drive unit and the first output unit, and has at least one second partial drive train which is assigned to a second output unit which transmits a torque between the drive unit and the second output unit. When a positive torque is transmitted, a load is applied to the drivetrain in a first direction, and when a negative torque is transmitted, a load is applied to the drivetrain in a second direction opposed to the first direction. At least one pre-load device is provided which, when a predetermined positive torque limiting value is reached or when a predetermined negative torque limiting value is reached, pre-loads the first partial drivetrain in the first direction of the positive torque and pre-loads the second partial drivetrain in the second direction of the negative torque.

System and methods are provided for improving fuel economy of a hybrid vehicle. A hybrid vehicle may include an EV driving mode, where the motor alone powers the hybrid vehicle. However, use of such a driving mode may be limited to conditions involving low drive force and power requests due to motor and battery power specifications. In some circumstances, the conditions during which the motor can be used to power the hybrid vehicle can be expanded. Such conditions may include instances where the driver only seeks light accelerations for a short period of time. Such an expanded EV mode may be triggered when the hybrid vehicle is travelling a downhill grade.

Various embodiments include a method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft and a drivetrain separable from the internal combustion engine using a releasable clutch comprising: propelling the vehicle in a first operating state in a predetermined range around a speed while the internal combustion engine is off and is separated from the drivetrain by the releasable clutch; sensing a braking operation while in the first operating state; predicting whether a power demand is expected within a predetermined time interval; and, if the power demand is expected, setting the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine in rotation, or increasing a rotational speed of the crankshaft in preparation for an engine restart.