A vehicle includes an engine; a continuously variable transmission; an output clutch disposed between the continuously variable transmission and the drive wheel; a drive motor coupled between the output clutch and the drive wheel; a traveling mode controller; and a speed ratio controller. In a case where required driving power based on an accelerator position is less than a first threshold, the traveling mode controller switches a traveling mode to a first traveling mode. In a case where the required driving power is equal to or greater than the first threshold, the traveling mode controller switches the traveling mode to a second traveling mode. In a case where the required driving power is less than the first threshold and equal to or greater than a second threshold, the speed ratio controller causes a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission to change depending on a vehicle speed.

Disclosed is a method for controlling engagement of an engine clutch in a hybrid electric vehicle in which an engagement control method of the engine clutch is accurately determined so as to minimize a determination error and a sense of discontinuity caused by conversion of the engagement control method resulting therefrom.

A control device includes an internal combustion engine control unit configured to control an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine control unit is configured to, in a case where a first traveling mode, increase a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine in accordance with an increase in a speed of a vehicle and when the rotational speed reaches a predetermined first rotational speed, decrease the rotational speed to a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed, calculate a decrease rate of the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine per unit time when the rotational speed is decreased from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed, and in a case where the traveling mode setting unit shifts from the first traveling mode to the second traveling mode, decrease the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine based on the decrease rate.

Presented are hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains and control logic for optimized regenerative braking (regen), methods for making/using such systems, and HEVs with increased regen through reduced engine and transmission friction. A method of operating an HEV includes determining if an REV operating state or fault prevents engagement of a regen control operation and, if not, responsively determining if a torque request for the REV's powertrain is less than a road load on the HEV. The regen control operation is executed responsive to the torque request being less than the road load. The regen control operation includes the power transmission drivingly disconnecting the engine from the road wheels, and the engine operating at a target engine speed. A negative torque offset to maintain a vehicle deceleration rate after disconnecting the engine from the road wheels is calculated; the traction motor outputs a negative torque based on this negative torque offset.

A drive train for a vehicle includes a first electromagnetic device, a second electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the first electromagnetic device by an electrical power transmission system, and an engine coupled to the first electromagnetic device and configured to drive the first electromagnetic device to provide electrical energy. In all modes of operation where the engine drives the first electromagnetic device to provide the electrical energy, the first electromagnetic device operates without providing the electrical energy to an energy storage device.

A hybrid motor vehicle including an internal combustion motor and an electric drive motor as drive motors in a powertrain, wherein the electric drive motor and a high-voltage battery associated therewith are connected to a high-voltage network of the hybrid motor vehicle, wherein the hybrid motor vehicle moreover includes at least one air conditioning system with an air conditioning compressor with which an electric motor for operating the air conditioning compressor from the high-voltage network is associated, wherein the electric motor, forming an auxiliary unit arrangement, is connected via a first clutch to the air conditioning compressor and via a second clutch to a belt drive of the internal combustion motor and can be operated in order to charge the high-voltage battery. A control device is provided for actuating at least one of the clutches as a function of a current operating state of the hybrid motor vehicle.

A control device may be configured for responding to failure for ensuring the stability of a vehicle by switching from a two-wheel-drive mode to a four-wheel-drive mode when detecting failure of the brake system in a two-wheel-drive mode.

A vehicle includes a power source configured to provide drive torque, a front axle, a rear axle, and a transfer case configured to distribute drive torque from the power source between the front axle and the rear axle. The vehicle additionally includes a clutch arranged between the front axle and the transfer case. The clutch has a disengaged state and an engaged state drivingly coupling the transfer case and the front axle. The vehicle also includes a regenerative braking system configured to, in response to a braking request, provide regenerative braking torque to the rear axle. The vehicle further includes a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a braking request and the clutch being in the disengaged state, control the clutch to shift into the engaged state to couple the regenerative braking system to the front axle and provide regenerative braking torque to the front axle.

A system and method is disclosed for engine starting and transmission shifting where a controller may be operable to decrease a torque of a motor and operate a starter-generator (ISG) to start an engine responsive to a command to shift the transmission and start the engine. The controller may disengage a second clutch and subsequently shift the transmission to a target gear ratio speed responsive to the torque of the motor achieving zero. The controller may increase respective torques of the motor, ISG, and engine to drive a speed of the motor, ISG, and engine toward a target speed defined by the target gear speed responsive to completion of the shift. The controller may engage the second clutch responsive to the speed of the motor achieving the target speed and engage a disconnect clutch responsive to the respective speeds of the ISG and engine achieving the target speed.

Apparatus for providing hydraulic line pressure and vacuum respectively to the steering subsystem and the braking subsystem of a wheeled motor vehicle comprises a battery powered electric motor which drives one or more of a hydraulic pump and a vacuum pump. When the engine is stopped while the vehicle is moving, to save fuel, the electric motor drives the pumps, so that hydraulic pressure and vacuum are provided for continued safe operation of the vehicle.