Methods and systems are provided for electrically-assisted engine braking. In one example, a method may include operating a turbocharger by an electric motor during engine braking to increase air flow to an engine intake. The enhanced air flow into the engine intake increases an exhaust manifold pressure, thus increased a braking force provided by engine braking.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing an acceleration boost. The acceleration boosting system provides or outputs a boosted acceleration. The acceleration boosting system includes a communication device, a navigation unit or a first sensor that is configured to obtain acceleration information. The acceleration boosting system includes a second sensor that is configured to detect or measure an applied force of an accelerator pedal. The applied force corresponds to a first amount of energy that is used to power or propel the vehicle. The acceleration boosting system includes an electronic control unit that is configured to determine that the acceleration information indicates that a driver should accelerate. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that the accelerator pedal is depressed within a threshold time limit of the indication and cause a second amount of energy to be converted to move or propel multiple wheels.

A host vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine, a communication system configured to transmit and receive a traffic-related message, and a controller in communication with the turbocharger and the communication system. The controller is programmed to: receive the traffic-related message via the communication system; and command the internal combustion engine to increase a power output to spool up the turbocharger in response to receiving the traffic-related message. The controller is programmed to determine a number of relevant vehicles. The number of relevant vehicles is a number of vehicles that are in front of the host vehicle and behind a traffic light and affect a movement of the host vehicle toward the traffic light. The traffic-related message is a one of a vehicle message from another vehicle and/or a traffic-light message from the traffic light.

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine with cylinders generating driving power and a turbocharger having a turbine in an exhaust line, and a compressor which rotates with the turbine and compresses intake gas. An electric supercharger is disposed in the intake line upstream from the compressor, a catalytic converter is disposed in the exhaust line downstream from the turbine. A post processing bypass line connects the exhaust line at a downstream portion of the catalytic converter and the intake line at a downstream portion of the electric supercharger. A low pressure EGR device includes a low pressure EGR line branching off from the exhaust line and merging into the intake line and a low pressure EGR cooler disposed therein. A high pressure EGR device includes a high pressure EGR line branching off from an exhaust system and merging into an intake system, and a high pressure EGR cooler disposed therein.

A speed change control system configured to allow a driver to promptly sense a response to an accelerating operation. A reference index value that the driver senses an acceleration response is calculated based on acceleration of a vehicle. If the reference index value is smaller than a first reference index value at which the driver is allowed to sense the acceleration response, a downshift point is lowered to a first drive force.

The present invention relates to a method for determining engine operation parameter values during and/or after a gear shift operation prior to performing said gear shift operation. The method comprises the steps of, prior to the gear shift operation: determining initial conditions comprising torque demand and engine speed and certain other engine operation parameter values; providing said initial conditions to an engine operation simulation model; providing a torque development course as well as an engine speed development course during the intended gear shift operation to said engine operation simulation model; and determining desired engine operation parameter values by means of said engine operation simulation model based upon the information thus provided to said engine operation simulation model.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods, implementable in a vehicle equipped with adaptive cruise control, for maintaining in a subject vehicle substantially constant following distance relative to a preceding target vehicle where there has been a change in slope of a surface on which the subject vehicle is travelling and/or where pitch of the subject vehicle has changed. Systems and methods disclosed herein may maintain such substantially constant following distance by managing degree of engine braking. Such engine braking management effective for maintaining substantially constant following distance relative to a preceding target vehicle, notwithstanding change in driving surface slope and/or change in pitch of the subject vehicle, may be realized based on data received into the subject vehicle's electronic control unit through sensors for detecting surface slope and sensors for detecting vehicle pitch, which may be located on the subject vehicle.

A control device for a vehicle includes an opening degree sensor to detect an opening degree of a wastegate valve disposed in a bypass passage bypassing a turbine. Circuitry is configured to stop an internal combustion engine while the vehicle is driven by a motor in a motor drive mode. The circuitry is configured to calculate a target opening degree of the wastegate valve to be larger than a maximum error between the opening degree detected by the opening degree sensor and an actual opening degree of the wastegate valve. The circuitry is configured to control the wastegate valve such that the opening degree detected by the opening degree sensor is equal to the target opening degree while the vehicle is driven in the motor drive mode.

Methods and systems are provided for enabling vehicle speed control without overfilling a system battery. In one example, braking energy is applied (or recuperated) by applying a negative torque from BISG until a system battery has been sufficiently charged. Thereafter, the electrical power generated by the BISG is used to operate an electric boost assist motor, and the energy is recuperated in the form of stored compressed air.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing an acceleration boost. The acceleration boosting system provides or outputs a boosted acceleration. The acceleration boosting system includes a communication device, a navigation unit or a first sensor that is configured to obtain acceleration information. The acceleration boosting system includes a second sensor that is configured to detect or measure an applied force of an accelerator pedal. The applied force corresponds to a first amount of energy that is used to power or propel the vehicle. The acceleration boosting system includes an electronic control unit that is configured to determine that the acceleration information indicates that a driver should accelerate. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that the accelerator pedal is depressed within a threshold time limit of the indication and cause a second amount of energy to be converted to move or propel multiple wheels.