A vehicle includes an engine, a rotary electric machine, an electric storage device, and a controller. The rotary electric machine is connected to an output shaft of the engine. The electric storage device is configured to supply electric power to a drive source of the vehicle and to be charged with electric power from an external power source. The external power source is disposed outside the vehicle. The controller is configured to supply the electric power from the external power source to the rotary electric machine such that the output shaft is rotated when the electric storage device is chargeable with the electric power from the external power source.

A battery voltage control device includes a step-up module that steps up a voltage of a battery and applies the voltage to a driving motor, an image analysis processing module that acquires and analyzes a piece of image information of an outside of a vehicle that is obtained through imaging, and driving state forecast module that forecasts a driving state including starting or stopping of the vehicle based on a piece of environment information of the outside of the vehicle that is obtained through analysis of the piece of image information and controls step-up by the step-up module based on the forecast driving state.

A battery simulator can operate to provide different outputs. These outputs provide different characteristics related to how a device under test operates. In an example, a controller such as an electronic control module (ECM) or battery energy control module (BECM) can be tested. The battery simulator may provide different modes, e.g., a high current mode or a voltage change over time mode. A traction battery simulator may include a controller, analog output circuitry being controlled by the controller to output test current and test voltage, and switching circuitry connected to the analog output circuitry that has a first state and a second state. The first state is to provide an increased change in voltage over change in time relative to the second state. The second state is to provide an increased capacitance over the first state.

A leakage detection system for a battery pack of a vehicle may include detection circuitry having a first side connecting a positive terminal of the pack to ground and a second side connecting a negative terminal of the pack to ground, and including no more than one switch among the sides. The system may also include measurement circuitry configured to measure a voltage across a resistor of one of the sides when the switch is open and closed, and a controller programmed to output a leakage associated with the battery pack based on the voltage.

A vehicle propulsion system includes a plurality of power sources coupled to a final drive of the vehicle propulsion system. A controller is programmed to determine a desired power demand from the power sources and operate a number of the power sources to produce the desired power demand. The controller identifies a least efficient power source of the power sources and controls the least efficient power source to produce power at an optimum operating point of the least efficient power source. The controller also identifies a power output of the least efficient power source corresponding to the optimum operating point, compares the power output of the least efficient power source to the desired power demand, identifies a remaining power demand from the comparison, and controls another power source to produce the remaining power demand.

A power controller of a hybrid vehicle includes: a first drive motor that drives any one of a front wheel and a rear wheel of a vehicle; an engine that drives the one wheel or the corresponding other one of the front wheel and the rear wheel of the vehicle through a clutch; a generator that is driven by the engine; and a voltage transformer that steps down generated electric power supplied to the first drive motor and a battery from the generator. The power controller limits passing power of the voltage transformer according to the temperature of the voltage transformer, and connects the clutch when the passing power of the voltage transformer is limited.

In a hybrid vehicle including: a step-up converter for stepping-up the voltage from a battery and supplying power to the front motor for driving front wheels; as well as a paddle switch for setting regenerative braking torque stepwisely, and a hybrid control unit for calculating a regenerative braking force based on a selection stage set by the paddle switch, the hybrid control unit decreases the regenerative braking force to be less than the regenerative braking force while the maximum input/output power of the step-up converter is not limited, when a selection stage in which regenerative braking force is more than that in a D range is selected while the maximum input/output power of the step-up converter is limited.

A power supply system includes a power transmission electric circuit via which an electrical load is connected to a first energy storage and to a second energy storage. A first charge rate indicates a charge rate of the first energy storage. A second charge rate indicates a charge rate of the second energy storage. A ratio of a first electric power amount of an electric power to be supplied from the first energy storage to the electrical load and a second electric power amount of an electric power to be supplied from the second energy storage to the electrical load is changed in accordance with the first charge rate at least in a first mode among the first mode and a second mode. The second electric power amount in the second mode is smaller than the second electric power amount in the first mode.

A system and method is provided for controlling electric power in a plug-in vehicle, such as a pure electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle. The electric power is controlled from an external power source to one or more predetermined components in the plug-in vehicle. The power source is external to the vehicle and has a maximum power level. Electric power at a charging level from the external power source is received. Based on the charging level and the maximum power level, an available power level is determined. Based on the available power level, the electric power is controlled from the external power source to the predetermined components in the plug-in vehicle.

A transmission device includes an output shaft, first and second input shafts, a first gear mechanism, a selective fixing device and a connecting and disconnecting device. The second input shaft is coaxially arranged on an outside periphery of the first input shaft. The first gear mechanism couples the first input shaft and the output shaft with a first gear ratio. The first gear mechanism includes an idle gear mounted on one of the first input shaft and the output shaft. The selective fixing device selectively fixes the idle gear to one of the first input shaft and the output shaft. The second gear mechanism couples the second input shaft and the output shaft with a second gear ratio. The connecting and disconnecting device selectively connects and disconnects the second input shaft to the rotating shaft.