Vehicle designers are largely walking away from internal-combustion engines to battery and electric motors. Until infrastructure is developed to support total electrification, hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) which include both an internal combustion engine and an electric machine are a step toward electrification and higher system fuel efficiency while retaining the expected vehicle range. To obtain even higher system fuel efficiency combustion modes that provide higher efficiency than spark-ignition (SI) operation can be used in HEVs. A problem with such combustion modes is that they cannot be used over as wide an operating range as SI operation and transitions among modes is slow and cumbersome. By having the ICE installed into a HEV be a multi-combustion mode engine and having the EM to coordinate mode switches to be smooth, the high fuel-efficiency of alternative combustion modes can be exploited while providing smooth operation expected by vehicle users.

Methods and systems are provided for an electric drivetrain. In one example, the electric drivetrain system includes a first and a second electric motor-generator rotationally coupled to a planetary assembly that is rotationally coupled to a drive axle via an output gear. The system further includes a controller that is configured to, during a first operating condition, operate each of the first and second electric motor-generators in a motor mode or a generator mode and hold the output gear at a zero speed.

A traction battery pack assembly includes, among other things, first and second pieces of an enclosure having an interior area. An attachment rim is disposed at a periphery of the first piece. The attachment rim has a stand-off that includes a platform portion and turned flange. The platform portion extends outward from the interior area in a first direction. The platform portion provides an aperture. The turned flange extends away from the platform portion in a second direction and terminates at an end face. The second direction is transverse to the first direction. The aperture is configured to receive a fastener that clamps the end face against the second piece.

An automotive controller drives a plurality of relays to a first position or a second position depending on which of a first port and second port, that are both arranged to provide electrical power, has greater electrical power such that a traction battery receives current from the one of the first port and second port delivering the greater electrical power but not the other of the first port and second port.

Systems and methods for coordinating steering controls between towing vehicles and towed vehicles provide more cohesive parking experiences during towing events, including bidirectional charging towing events. The towed vehicle may be controlled to provide assistive parking steering maneuvers to assist the towing vehicle when parking during the towing event. The assistive parking steering maneuver may include maneuvering a drive wheel of the towed vehicle either toward or away from a detected curb or detected traffic, for example.

Engine combustion mode-switching transitions are controlled through a coordination control of an electric machine and a multi-combustion mode engine coupled to each other with a hybrid propulsion system by following predetermined combustion mode-switching strategies and control algorithms.

Systems and methods may coordinate and execute bidirectional energy transfer events between electrified vehicles and one or more participating electrified recreational vehicles. The proposed systems and methods may be configured to provide charging alert notifications from the electrified vehicle to the one or more electrified recreational vehicles during group off-roading events. The charging alert notifications indicate the need for the one or more electrified recreational vehicles to return to the electrified vehicle for charging during the off-roading event in order to avoid a no start/stranded condition.

An electric vehicle, including, a user compartment and a front section including a portion of a vehicle chassis, a crash absorbing member located in the front section and connected to the portion of the vehicle chassis, the crash absorbing member including a first extruded profile, preferably an aluminum profile, having a main extension direction in a transverse direction (y) of the vehicle, whereby the extrusion direction of the first extruded profile extends substantially in the transverse direction (y) of the vehicle, and wherein further the first extruded profile includes at least two cells (C1, C2) being defined by outer walls and at least one intermediate wall separating the at least two cells (C1, C2), wherein the at least one intermediate wall has a main extension direction in the transverse direction (y) and a second extension direction which extends substantially in a vertical direction (z).

An electrical power converter unit (2) includes: a first connection interface (10) comprising two leads (12, 14) forming a DC input/output interface for connecting a first electrical device to the power converter unit, a three-phase rectifier power converter circuit (16) and a second connection interface (30) for connecting a second electrical device to the power converter unit. The second connection interface includes a switching unit (46) adapted to switch between:—a DC input/output mode, in which first, second and third arms of the power converter circuit (16) are electrically connected together, forming one DC input/output; and—an AC input/output mode, in which the arms are disconnected from each other, forming separate input/outputs for a three-phase AC voltage.

The object of the invention is to travel backward by an engine alone in a state where an electric motor is disconnected. Thus, external teeth are formed on the outer periphery of a ring gear which meshes with a first sun gear via a first pinion gear and a second pinion gear and to which power input from an electric motor is transmitted; a power transmission mechanism further includes a gear meshing with the external teeth of the ring gear; and a second clutch capable of non-rotatably fixing the ring gear at the time of causing a vehicle to travel backward with power input from an engine is provided between the ring gear and a transmission case.