Methods and systems are provided for improving the operating range of an electric vehicle having an engine wherein waste heat generated during motor operation is transferred to pre-heat the engine. Engine starting is predicted based on the electrical torque demand of the vehicle relative to the actual and predicted electrical energy consumption of the electric vehicle. Prior to starting the engine to charge a battery of the motor, various engine components are pre-heated in an order that improves vehicle range while also optimizing fuel economy.

A controller for the hybrid vehicle selects an engine as a power apparatus of the hybrid vehicle when a request load is higher than a threshold load, and selects ae motor as the power apparatus when the request load is equal to or lower than the threshold load. The controller sets the threshold load in accordance with a SOC of a battery, and decreases the threshold load as the SOC is lower in at least a predetermined SOC range. The controller controls an intake air temperature during stopping of the engine to a target intake air temperature by operating an intake air temperature variable system when the motor is selected as the power apparatus. The controller sets the target intake air temperature in accordance with the SOC, and increases the target intake air temperature as the SOC is lower in at least the predetermined SOC range.

A drive system of a plug-in hybrid vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; an electrical machine; an electrochemical storage device, which is configured to supply the electrical machine with electrical energy; and a conditioning system. The conditioning system is configured to precondition the electrochemical storage device and has an electric heating element. the conditioning system is configured, before the start of a journey, to activate a preconditioning function of the internal combustion engine and to preheat a coolant of the internal combustion engine by time-controlled activation of the electric heating element.

In the present invention, when an engine of a hybrid vehicle is in a cooled state, a control device 70 thereof performs control so as to disengage an engine clutch 14 configured from a wet multi-disc clutch and supply electrical power to a motor generator 21 from a high-voltage battery 24 to rotationally drive the motor generator 21 in order to agitate clutch oil 86 in the engine clutch 14 and raise the temperature thereof.

A passenger compartment of a hybrid electric vehicle is heated without operating an engine when passing through a specific zone using information about a route to a destination and a heating control method. The heating control method includes, when determined that a specific zone related to discharge of exhaust gas is present on a traveling route, determining a target coolant temperature, which is a coolant temperature to be reached when entering the specific zone, determining a coolant temperature increase distance necessary to reach the target coolant temperature, determining the time at which to start temperature increase control using the determined coolant temperature increase distance, and operating an engine from the time at which to start the temperature increase control until entering the specific zone.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein relate to a system including a vehicle accessory and a controller coupled to the vehicle accessory. The controller is configured to receive internal vehicle information including information about the vehicle accessory; receive external static information based on a position of the vehicle; receive external dynamic information based on the position and a time of travel of the vehicle at the position; and control operation of the vehicle accessory based on the internal vehicle information, the external static information, and the external dynamic information.

A heating control method of a hybrid vehicle controls engine driving for heating or revolutions per minute (RPM) of an engine according to whether the engine is started in a state in which navigation information is received to actively control a heating value of the engine and to improve fuel efficiency on an actual road in cold weather conditions, and for controlling the RPM of the engine to an appropriate RPM to smoothly recharge a battery with a high voltage through a hybrid starter generator (HSG).

A motor vehicle can be powered by a combustion engine or an electric machine or both. Coolant is conveyed in the coolant circuit first to the electric machine before being conveyed from the electric machine to the combustion engine for cooling both the combustion engine and the electric machine. A cooling device adjusts a temperature of the coolant in the coolant circuit in such a way that the cooling device adjusts the coolant to a first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered by the combustion engine, and to a second temperature which is less than the first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered by the electric machine and the combustion engine.

Methods and systems are provided for control of a combustion engine in a vehicle. In operation, at least one future speed profile for an actual speed of the vehicle is simulated during a road section ahead based on information about the road section and on knowledge that coasting with the combustion engine shut down will be applied during the road section. Subsequently, based on the future speed profile, a starting point in time is determined, when the combustion engine will need to be started for forward driving the vehicle and/or to brake the vehicle. Subsequently, a starting point brought forward in time is determined based on the need for a forward driving or braking force arising, where the starting point brought forward in time precedes the starting point in time. Subsequently, the combustion engine is controlled to be started at the starting point brought forward in time.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein provide for receiving internal vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information; controlling the operation of one or more electronic accessories of the vehicle based on the received information; and managing a power supply for the one or more electronic accessories based on the energy usage and the operation of the electronic accessories.