A driving force control system for a hybrid vehicle is provided to reduce a shock resulting from switching a travelling direction between the forward direction and the backward direction. The control system is applied to a hybrid vehicle in which an operating mode can be selected at least from a series mode and a series parallel mode. A travelling direction of the vehicle is switched by a shifting device between forward direction and backward direction. A controller is configured to maintain the previous operating mode after switching the travelling direction of the vehicle by the shifting device.

A power control system may include at least one of batteries, a motor, and a data logic analyzer that can interpret certain variable conditions of a transport, such as a tractor trailer, moving along a road or highway. The data can be used to determine when to apply supplemental power to the wheels of a trailer to reduce fuel usage. One example device may include at least one of: a power creation module that generates electrical power, a battery which store the electrical power, a motor affixed to a trailer axle of a trailer which provides a turning force to the trailer axle when enabled to operate from the stored electrical power of the battery, and a motor controller configured to initiate the motor to operate according to a predefined sensor condition.

Systems and methods for traffic learning are described. One embodiment of a method includes predicting a vehicle route of a vehicle, determining historical traffic data related to at least one segment along the vehicle route, and determining an energy traffic budget for electric power consumption of the vehicle along the vehicle route, where the energy traffic budget is learned from the historical traffic data. Some embodiments include creating a schedule for transitioning between gasoline power and electric power for the vehicle route, implementing the schedule as the vehicle traverses the vehicle route, and in response to encountering traffic along the vehicle route, implementing the energy traffic budget.

A multi-purpose vehicle is disclosed that includes a mode change switch for operating a travel mode of a vehicle body and a mode control device for switching the travel mode of the vehicle body in response to an operation of the mode change switch. The mode control device switches the travel mode of the vehicle body between a two-wheel engine driving mode in which only an engine is driven, a two-wheel motor driving mode in which only a motor is driven, a four-wheel hybrid driving mode in which both of the engine and the motor are driven, and an OFF-mode in which none of the engine and the motor is driven.

A vehicle includes, an engine, an electric machine having an associated battery, and a controller. The controller is configured to disable the engine and operate the electric machine to propel the vehicle when a proximity of the vehicle to a destination is less than a drive range of the battery.

A propulsion system for providing a power output is disclosed. The propulsion system may have a transmission configured to provide the power output. The propulsion system may also have at least one first energy conversion machine. Further, the propulsion system may have at least one power unit. The power unit may be operable to selectively drive at least one of the transmission and the at least one first energy conversion machine. The propulsion system may also have at least one second energy conversion machine. The second energy conversion machine may be operable to selectively drive or be driven by the transmission. In addition, the propulsion system may have a power transfer arrangement for transferring power between the first and second energy conversion machines.

A vehicle includes a hybrid powertrain. The hybrid powertrain includes an engine and an electric machine. In response to a loss of controllability of the electric machine, a controller is programmed to operate the powertrain in a limited operating mode. In the limited operating mode, the powertrain is controlled so that a speed of the engine is within a speed range such that the electric machine generates a current to charge a traction battery. In response to a loss of communication with a power inverter that controls the electric machine, the powertrain is controlled so that the speed of the engine is within the speed range and the current flowing to the traction battery is monitored. If the current flow is above a threshold, then the limited operating mode is entered.

A mode switching method of a hybrid vehicle includes: determining a reference on-power as a reference for switching from a first mode to a second mode and a reference off-power as a reference for switching from the second mode to the first mode; determining a minimum on-power, a minimum off-power, and a maximum off-power; and determining a final on-power and a final off-power using the reference on-power, the reference off-power, the minimum on-power, the minimum off-power, and the maximum off-power.

A hybrid vehicle control device is provided that is capable of controlling a drive source according to a travel plan. The hybrid vehicle control device is configured to be mounted in a hybrid vehicle including a drive source having an engine and a motor/generator, and a navigation system that acquires travel environment information of a planned travel route. The control device is configured such that, upon selection of a travel plan mode, which controls the drive source according to a travel plan set for low fuel travel based on travel environment information acquired from the navigation system in the absence of the selection of an eco-mode, which controls the drive source to prioritize fuel efficiency over power performance, the selection of the travel plan mode is linked with a setting operation for the eco-mode.

When there is a history that a required torque has reached a high torque range and the required torque falls within a low torque range, a start threshold is changed from a value larger than a maximum double-drive torque to a value smaller than a selection threshold for selecting a single-drive mode or a double-drive mode. When the required torque becomes larger than the start threshold, an engine is started.