A method of controlling a vehicle (1) in which rear road wheels (2) are driven by a prime mover (4, 20). This vehicle control method comprises: a basic torque setting step of setting, based on a driving state of the vehicle, a basic torque to be generated by the prime mover; a decremental torque setting step of setting a decremental torque such that the basic torque is reduced in accordance with a decrease in steering angle of a steering device (26) equipped in the vehicle; and a torque generation step of controlling the prime mover to generate a torque which is determined by reducing the basic torque based on the decremental torque.

Methods and systems are provided for enabling turbocharger shaft speed control without overfilling a system battery. In one example, shaft speed is reduced by applying a negative torque from an electric boost assist motor until a system battery has been sufficiently charged. Thereafter, electrical power from shaft braking is recuperated by commanding a positive torque onto a driveline of the vehicle via a BISG.

Methods and systems are described for conserving energy used by an energy consuming device. In certain embodiments, an energy conservation system can be configured to deliver energy to the energy consuming device for a period, followed by a period where energy delivery is dampened and/or cut. By cycling the delivery of energy in this fashion, the energy conservation can achieve a pulsed efficiency.

The vehicle movement control apparatus of the disclosure sets an update movement route as a target movement route when an update condition is satisfied. The apparatus acquires a turning characteristic, an acceleration characteristic, and a deceleration characteristic of a vehicle while executing an automatic movement control to cause the vehicle to move along the update movement route. The apparatus updates vehicle behavior characteristic data so as to represent actual vehicle behavior characteristics, based on the acquired turning characteristics, the acquired acceleration characteristic, and the acquired deceleration characteristic.

A method for protecting a dual mass flywheel DMF, by detecting, when the engine in running, that the DMF is entering into resonance, the DMF being arranged between an internal combustion engine and a gearbox of a vehicle, comprising the following steps: Determining the average rotational speed (Vvil.sub.moy) of the crankshaft, over time, over a predetermined given period, as a first parameter constituting a risk of the DMF entering into resonance, Measuring the maximum instantaneous rotational speed and the minimum instantaneous rotational speed of the crankshaft, the difference defining the maximum amplitude (Amp.sub.Vvil) of the rotational oscillations of the crankshaft, over the period, as a second parameter constituting a risk of the DMF entering into resonance, Detecting when the DMF is entering into resonance from a determined combination of values of the first and second parameters, over the period, limiting or cutting off the fuel injection in the cylinders after said detection.

Methods and systems are provided for launching a vehicle in an electric-only mode of operation. In one example, a driveline operating method comprises engaging a parking pawl to an output shaft of a dual clutch transmission in response to a request to engine a vehicle into a parked state, and disengaging the parking pawl via rotating an engine via an integrated starter/generator in response to a request to propel the vehicle solely via power of an electric machine positioned downstream of the dual clutch transmission. In this way, the vehicle may be launched in the electric-only mode without activating the engine in a fueled mode of operation and then deactivating the engine, which may increase vehicle operator satisfaction and which may improve fuel economy.

Methods and systems are provided for enabling turbocharger shaft speed control without overfilling a system battery. In one example, shaft speed is reduced by applying a negative torque from an electric boost assist motor until a system battery has been sufficiently charged. Thereafter, electrical power from shaft braking is recuperated by commanding a positive torque onto a driveline of the vehicle via a BISG.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine idle-stop based on upcoming traffic and road conditions. In one example, a method may include receiving data including traffic information and road characteristics immediately ahead of a vehicle from one or more remote sources, and adjusting one or more vehicle thresholds based on the received data. A duration of a prospective engine idle-stop may be estimated based on the received data and an engine idle-stop may be initiated based on the duration of the prospective engine idle-stop and the adjusted one or more vehicle threshold.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine idle-stop based on upcoming traffic and road conditions. In one example, a method may include receiving data including traffic information and road characteristics immediately ahead of a vehicle from one or more remote sources, and adjusting one or more vehicle thresholds based on the received data. A duration of a prospective engine idle-stop may be estimated based on the received data and an engine idle-stop may be initiated based on the duration of the prospective engine idle-stop and the adjusted one or more vehicle threshold.

Methods and systems are described for conserving energy used by an energy consuming device. In certain embodiments, an energy conservation system can be configured to deliver energy to the energy consuming device for a period, followed by a period where energy delivery is dampened and/or cut. By cycling the delivery of energy in this fashion, the energy conservation can achieve a pulsed efficiency.