The invention relates to a method for determining a characteristic curve of a hybrid separating clutch of a hybrid vehicle without a test stand, wherein the hybrid separating clutch separates or connects an internal combustion engine and an electric motor and the hybrid separating clutch is slowly actuated on the basis of a position which the hybrid separating clutch assumes in an unactuated state, and a clutch characteristic curve is determined as a function of a clutch torque over a path of the hybrid separating clutch. In a method by which a characteristic curve of the hybrid separating clutch can be reliably defined without a test stand, a clutch torque which underlies the characteristic curve of the hybrid separating clutch is determined from the torque of the internal combustion engine in the case of a running internal combustion engine and a motion state of the electric motor which brakes the internal combustion engine while the hybrid separating clutch is moving.

The present invention is a powertrain for a hybrid vehicle, comprising a driving/receiving machine (20), a thermal engine (10) and engine shaft (12), a speed variation device (14) including an engine epicyclic gear train (24) with a sun gear (34) and a crown (42) which are each connected to the engine shaft (12) by an engine controlled coupling (26, 28) and to a fixed part (40) of the powertrain by a one-way automatic coupling (30, 32). A planet gear carrier (46) and a machine epicyclic gear train (60) are arranged on a shaft (62) substantially parallel to engine shaft (12). The planet gear carrier comprises a sun gear (64), a crown (72), a planet gear carrier (68) and an epicyclic gear train controlled coupling (88). The speed variation device (14) comprises a device (94) for connecting/disconnecting electric machine (20) with machine epicyclic gear train (60).

Methods and systems are provided for reducing torque pulsations during hybrid engine shutdown and restarts. A valve actuating mechanism may be actuated to operate an engine with a selected valve lift profile during engine restart and shutdown events that is distinct from the valve lift profile applied during cylinder combustion. The selected valve lift profile reduces cylinder pressure during engine shutdown and restarts.

A control process including the following steps is executed. The control process includes, at the time of switching from series-parallel mode to series mode, a step of reducing an engine torque, a step of releasing a clutch, a step of reducing a reaction torque of a first rotary electric machine and a step of increasing a torque of a second rotary electric machine, and, when synchronization is started and a step of increasing a positive torque of the first MG, a step of starting engagement of a clutch, and, when a rotation speed of the first rotary electric machine and a rotation speed of an engine are synchronous with each other, a step of engaging the clutch.

A drive unit is provided for a motor vehicle, including at least one internal combustion engine that has an output shaft, at least one starting element that can be driven by the output shaft, a transmission that can be driven by the output shaft via the starting element, and at least one bellows mechanism via which the starting element can be driven by the output shaft.

A planetary gear mechanism is desired in which pinion gears can be inserted between support portions on both sides in the axial direction of the pinion gears after the support portions on both sides in the axial direction of the pinion gears are coupled together. In this planetary gear mechanism, a coupling inner portion of a carrier coupling portion is located between a first sun gear and a second sun gear in the axial direction, and a carrier and the carrier coupling portion are formed so that each pinion gears can be inserted between a first shaft support portion and a second shaft support portion in the axial direction from the outside in the radial direction.

A battery submodule carrier includes a monolithic cell tray configured to accommodate a plurality of aligned battery cells; a plurality of cell retainers configured to retain the battery cells within the cell tray; and a plurality of tray fasteners configured to mount the cell tray to a battery system carrier.

A first electric power generation device configured to produce an accessory voltage according to a first instruction voltage. A second electric power generation device configured to produce the accessory voltage according to a second instruction. An electric control unit is configured to execute crank position stop control for stopping a crank of the engine at a target position when the engine is stopped by controlling the first electric power generation device such that a current is circulated in the first electric power generation device and the rotating electric machine generates braking torque. The electric control unit is configured to execute the crank position stop control in a state in which the second instruction voltage is equal to or higher than the first instruction voltage.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for driving rear-wheels of an environment-friendly vehicle. The apparatus for driving rear-wheels may include: a rear-wheel driver including a first motor and a second motor configured to respectively drive first and second rear wheels; a rear-wheel reducer configured to decelerate drive forces of the first and second motors and transmit the respective decelerated drive forces to the first and second rear wheels; a brake configured to releasably fix the rear-wheel reducer to a vehicle body; and a controller configured to control the rear-wheel driver, the rear-wheel reducer, and the brake. The rear-wheel reducer may include: a first planetary gear set disposed between an output end of the first motor and the first rear wheel; a second planetary gear set disposed between an output end of the second motor and the second rear wheel; and a ring gear coupled to the first and second planetary gear sets.

A system and method for modifying the engine pull-up (EPU) logic within a hybrid vehicle based on max motor torque that accounts for the drop or change in available motor torque due to the opening/slipping of a torque converter bypass clutch during engine starts is disclosed. An engine pull-up threshold is determined from max available motor torque at a virtual impeller speed, where the virtual impeller speed is the impeller speed that would result if the torque converter bypass clutch was open/slipping and transferring the same amount of torque.