When an acceleration request is issued, an electronic control unit for a hybrid vehicle performs control for producing an acceleration feeling of setting a target engine rotation speed to an initial rotation speed (=basic initial value+initial value correction value) which is lower than an optimal-fuel-efficiency rotation speed at which required engine power is able to be most efficiently output and increasing the engine rotation speed from the initial rotation speed to the optimal-fuel-efficiency rotation speed at a rotation speed increase rate (=basic increase rate+increase rate correction value) based on the elapse of time. When the target supercharging pressure is high, the initial value correction value is set to a greater value and the increase rate correction value is set to a greater value than when the target supercharging pressure is low.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine of a drivetrain of a vehicle during launching. The vehicle has an exhaust-gas aftertreatment system for purifying exhaust gas of the engine. After a starting operation of the engine, the drivetrain is operated in a first operating state. In this first operating state, the engine is operated at idle, the exhaust-gas aftertreatment system is heated by the internal combustion engine, and a launch prohibition is active. The launch prohibition that is active in the first operating state prevents launching using the internal combustion engine. After a predefined state of the exhaust-gas aftertreatment system has been attained, the drivetrain is operated in a second operating state. The launch prohibition is inactive in the second operating state, such that launching using the engine is possible in the second operating state.

Methods and systems are provided for providing assistive action to a driver of a vehicle to increase a following distance between the vehicle and a target lead vehicle. In one example, providing assistive action includes, operating the vehicle manually behind a target lead vehicle on a road, including estimating a following distance between the vehicle and the target lead vehicle, and responsive to the following distance being less than a first threshold following distance, providing an assistive action by adjusting a mapping from a driver demand to a wheel torque of the vehicle to increase a perceived resistance of the vehicle to the driver demand as the following distance decreases.

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a hybrid electric vehicle. According to the method, a route information is received in the form of a plurality of parameter sets, each parameter set relating to a segment of a route (S1). Subsequently, a power demand is estimated for each segment (S3) and a portion of an amount of energy being stored in the electric storage device is allocated to at least one of the segments. Alternatively or additionally, an amount of energy to be transferred into the electric storage device is allocated to at least one of the segments (S4). Additionally, at least one reference trajectory describing a state-of-energy of the electric storage device over the route resulting from the energy allocation is derived (S5). The operation of the hybrid electric vehicle is controlled as a function of a slope between a current state-of-energy and an upcoming control point on the reference trajectory (S7). Moreover, a data processing device comprising means for carrying out the method is presented.

Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle are presented. In one example, a controller may respond to a temperature of a catalyst to permit or temporarily inhibit a vehicle from moving. Engine load and engine emissions may be reduced by limiting vehicle motion until a catalyst temperature exceeds a threshold temperature.

A method for operating a vehicle comprises operating an electric machine and an internal combustion engine as the drive units, by which a total power is generated in synchronous operation for the driving of the vehicle, wherein one portion of the power of the electric machine and one portion of the power of the internal combustion engine is set in dependence on the temperature of at least one of the drive units in the total power for the driving of the vehicle.

Spark ignition engine operation at higher RPM so as to reduce alcohol requirements in high efficiency alcohol enhanced gasoline engines is disclosed. Control of engine upspeeding (use of a higher ratio of engine RPM to wheel RPM) so as to achieve an alcohol reduction objective while limiting any decrease in efficiency is described. High RPM alcohol enhanced gasoline engine operation in plug-in series hybrid powertrains for heavy duty trucks and other vehicles is also described.

Methods and systems of power management in a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. A control system of the hybrid vehicle obtains battery temperature and catalyst temperature. The control system determines (a) whether the battery temperature is within an optimal battery temperature range and (b) whether the catalyst temperature is within an optimal catalyst temperature range. The control system determines a power split ratio (PSR) based on the determination of (a) and (b). The control system controls the engine and the motor-generator based on the determined PSR.

A device for controlling driving of an electric four-wheel drive vehicle at the time of shift is provided. The device controls driving of an electric four-wheel drive vehicle to minimize energy loss occurring on a power transmission path during shift, thereby improving fuel efficiency.

A vehicle and associated method for calculating tire saturation is provided. The method may include the stability control computer calculating slip ratio and longitudinal force for the tire, calculating tire longitudinal stiffness by dividing longitudinal force by slip ratio, calculating tire saturation from tire longitudinal stiffness, and the stability control computer altering dynamic control of the vehicle based on calculated tire saturation. The stability control computer may calculate tire saturation from a tire saturation membership function which includes a first tire longitudinal stiffness value representing an unsaturated tire, a second tire longitudinal stiffness value representing a saturated tire, and a function line connecting the first tire longitudinal stiffness value to the second tire longitudinal stiffness value.