A hybrid vehicle drive device includes a power transmission mechanism including a transmission coupled to an engine output shaft, a clutch coupled to a transmission output shaft, a first gear coupled to a clutch output shaft, a final reduction gear that constantly meshes with the first gear, a drive shaft coupled to the final reduction gear, a first rotary element coupled to an electric motor, and a second rotary element that meshes with the final reduction gear and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotary element. The power transmission mechanism is disposed so that, when viewed from the rotational axis direction of each gear, a line that connects the rotational axis of the first rotary element and the rotational axis of the second rotary element is inclined to the first gear side in relation to the vertical direction of the vehicle when mounted to a vehicle.

A hybrid vehicle drive device includes a power transmission mechanism including a transmission coupled to an engine output shaft, a clutch coupled to a transmission output shaft, a first gear coupled to a clutch output shaft, a final reduction gear that constantly meshes with the first gear, a drive shaft coupled to the final reduction gear, a first rotary element coupled to an electric motor, and a second rotary element that meshes with the final reduction gear and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotary element. The power transmission mechanism is disposed so that, when viewed from the rotational axis direction of each gear, a line that connects the rotational axis of the first rotary element and the rotational axis of the second rotary element is inclined to the first gear side in relation to the vertical direction of the vehicle when mounted to a vehicle.

A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle may include, for a starting process of an internal combustion engine, transferring the separating clutch from a disengaged condition into an engaged condition or a slip state such that the electric machine accelerates the internal combustion engine to a starting speed. The method may further include actuating a torque-transmitting element between the electric machine and the output shaft to enter a slip state. The method may also include increasing the torque of the electric machine to reliably reach and hold the slip state of the torque-transmitting element. Additionally, the method may include operating the electric machine as a generator or as a motor depending on an expected load direction of the drive train during the starting process to reliably reach and hold the torque-transmitting element in the slip state.

A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle may include, for a starting process of an internal combustion engine, transferring the separating clutch from a disengaged condition into an engaged condition or a slip state such that the electric machine accelerates the internal combustion engine to a starting speed. The method may further include actuating a torque-transmitting element between the electric machine and the output shaft to enter a slip state. The method may also include increasing the torque of the electric machine to reliably reach and hold the slip state of the torque-transmitting element. Additionally, the method may include operating the electric machine as a generator or as a motor depending on an expected load direction of the drive train during the starting process to reliably reach and hold the torque-transmitting element in the slip state.

A drive system for a hybrid motor vehicle with a motor shaft rotationally coupled to the output shaft of an internal combustion engine, a first and second electric motors with respective first and second rotor shafts arranged in a radially offset manner to each other, a drive part rotationally connected to the second rotor shaft and which can be rotationally connected to at least one wheel, and a transmission unit operatively installed between the motor shaft, the two rotor shafts, and the drive part. A shift device controls the shift position of the transmission unit such that the shift device rotationally connects the motor shaft to the first rotor shaft while the second rotor shaft is decoupled in a first shift position, the shift device rotationally connects the motor shaft both to the first and second rotor shafts in a second shift position, and the shift device rotationally connects the two rotor shafts together while the motor shaft is decoupled in a third shift position.

A motor-vehicle hybrid powertrain unit comprises an internal combustion engine for driving the rear wheels of the motor-vehicle and one or two electric motors for driving the front wheels of the motor-vehicle. The internal combustion engine has an engine block below which there is provided no oil sump. The one or two electric motors are arranged immediately below the block of the internal combustion engine in the space, which in a conventional engine, is occupied by the oil sump.

A motor-vehicle hybrid powertrain unit comprises an internal combustion engine for driving the rear wheels of the motor-vehicle and one or two electric motors for driving the front wheels of the motor-vehicle. The internal combustion engine has an engine block below which there is provided no oil sump. The one or two electric motors are arranged immediately below the block of the internal combustion engine in the space, which in a conventional engine, is occupied by the oil sump.

A method of controlling gear shifting of a hybrid vehicle including an engine, a motor, and a stepped transmission includes predicting a requested torque reduction amount requested by the engine and the motor when there is a request to shift gears of the transmission, determining whether to realize the predicted requested torque reduction amount by reducing motor torque or applying counter torque, as a result of the determining, when it is not possible to realize the predicted requested torque reduction amount, determining an operating point correction amount for increasing an available torque reduction amount of the motor, and determining whether to perform first gear-shifting control in consideration of efficiency of the first gear-shifting control of increasing the motor torque and reducing engine torque by the operating point correction amount before an actual requested torque reduction amount is input.

A method of controlling gear shifting of a hybrid vehicle including an engine, a motor, and a stepped transmission includes predicting a requested torque reduction amount requested by the engine and the motor when there is a request to shift gears of the transmission, determining whether to realize the predicted requested torque reduction amount by reducing motor torque or applying counter torque, as a result of the determining, when it is not possible to realize the predicted requested torque reduction amount, determining an operating point correction amount for increasing an available torque reduction amount of the motor, and determining whether to perform first gear-shifting control in consideration of efficiency of the first gear-shifting control of increasing the motor torque and reducing engine torque by the operating point correction amount before an actual requested torque reduction amount is input.

When an engine start command is generated to an engine that is in a stopped state, engine start control for cranking the engine and starting fuel combustion after increasing the engine speed is performed. In the engine start control, one of a first start pattern in which an initial combustion speed is higher than a resonance speed of the engine, and a second start pattern in which the initial combustion speed is lower than the resonance speed of the engine is selected according to the speed ratio (gear position) of a transmission. Cranking torque in the second start pattern is lower than the cranking torque in the first start pattern.