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.

Presented are clutch-type engine disconnect devices, methods for making/using such disconnect devices, and motor vehicles equipped with such disconnect devices. An engine disconnect device includes a notch plate, which has multiple notches and attaches to a torque converter, and a pocket plate, which has multiple pockets and attaches to an engine's crankshaft. A pawl is movably mounted within each notch; these pawls selectively engage the notches with the pockets. A notch plate insert is nested within each notch, supporting thereon one of the pawls. A selector plate interposed between the pocket and notch plates moves from a first position, to shift the pawls out of engagement with the pockets, and a second position, to move the notch plate inserts within the notches and allow the pawls to engage the notches with the pockets to thereby lock the notch plate to the pocket plate to rotate in unison with each other.

A compact powertrain, comprises a first engine and a second engine and means for rotationally connecting said engines to a common output shaft; the engines have drive shafts with axles parallel to each other; connection means between said drive shafts and an output shaft, moreover, they comprise first coupling means on said first drive shaft for connecting said first drive shaft to the output shaft, and second coupling means for connecting said second drive shaft to said output shaft; the delivery of the rotational torque and power is controlled by the adjustment of each engine and said coupling means, being adapted to selectively connect/disconnect said drive shafts from said output shaft; the means for connecting the rotation of the two engines, left and right, to the output shaft comprise a clutch assembly and a gearbox; the clutch assembly is provided with a single clutch for drive shaft which connects or disconnects the respective drive shaft with a corresponding input and transmission shaft inside the gearbox; the common output shaft, of the rotation from the compact powertrain, rotates receiving motion by means of pairs of gears present respectively on one said transmission shaft, inside the gearbox, and on the output shaft, with the selective insertion or disengagement of the clutches and, depending on the rotational speed, of coupling engagements on the transmission shafts and of said gears present on said shafts; and it has one or more idle gears on the output shaft controlled by the rotation with at least one coupling engagement to the output shaft to receive the rotation, with the engagement inserted, or, when disengaged, transmit the rotation from one transmission shaft towards the other transmission shaft without any action on the output shaft.

Entirely endothermic, hybrid or electrical embodiments are described for both land vehicles of all kinds and boats.

A compact powertrain, comprises a first engine and a second engine and means for rotationally connecting said engines to a common output shaft; the engines have drive shafts with axles parallel to each other; connection means between said drive shafts and an output shaft, moreover, they comprise first coupling means on said first drive shaft for connecting said first drive shaft to the output shaft, and second coupling means for connecting said second drive shaft to said output shaft; the delivery of the rotational torque and power is controlled by the adjustment of each engine and said coupling means, being adapted to selectively connect/disconnect said drive shafts from said output shaft; the means for connecting the rotation of the two engines, left and right, to the output shaft comprise a clutch assembly and a gearbox; the clutch assembly is provided with a single clutch for drive shaft which connects or disconnects the respective drive shaft with a corresponding input and transmission shaft inside the gearbox; the common output shaft, of the rotation from the compact powertrain, rotates receiving motion by means of pairs of gears present respectively on one said transmission shaft, inside the gearbox, and on the output shaft, with the selective insertion or disengagement of the clutches and, depending on the rotational speed, of coupling engagements on the transmission shafts and of said gears present on said shafts; and it has one or more idle gears on the output shaft controlled by the rotation with at least one coupling engagement to the output shaft to receive the rotation, with the engagement inserted, or, when disengaged, transmit the rotation from one transmission shaft towards the other transmission shaft without any action on the output shaft.

Entirely endothermic, hybrid or electrical embodiments are described for both land vehicles of all kinds and boats.

The present disclosure is directed to an electric generator and motor transmission system that is capable of operating with high energy, wide operating range and extremely variable torque and RPM conditions. In accordance with various embodiments, the disclosed system is operable to: dynamically change the output “size” of the motor/generator by modularly engaging and disengaging rotor/stator sets as power demands increase or decrease; activate one stator or another within the rotor/stator sets as torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements change; and/or change from parallel to series winding configurations or the reverse through sets of 2, 4, 6 or more parallel, three-phase, non-twisted coil windings with switchable separated center tap to efficiently meet torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements.

The present disclosure is directed to an electric generator and motor transmission system that is capable of operating with high energy, wide operating range and extremely variable torque and RPM conditions. In accordance with various embodiments, the disclosed system is operable to: dynamically change the output “size” of the motor/generator by modularly engaging and disengaging rotor/stator sets as power demands increase or decrease; activate one stator or another within the rotor/stator sets as torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements change; and/or change from parallel to series winding configurations or the reverse through sets of 2, 4, 6 or more parallel, three-phase, non-twisted coil windings with switchable separated center tap to efficiently meet torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements.

Methods and systems are provided for selectively engaging an electric machine to an electric axle of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include engaging or disengaging the electric machine to a differential of the electric-axle by adjusting pressure in a piston coupled to an axle shaft of the electric-axle via a disconnect clutch.

A method for operating a hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle includes: starting the motor vehicle solely with the aid of an electric machine; engaging a torque converter lockup clutch for rotationally fixing an impeller of a torque converter to a turbine wheel of the torque converter, wherein the turbine wheel is rotationally fixed to the electric machine; and engaging a clutch in order to drivingly connect the impeller to a motor vehicle drive unit, in order to start the motor vehicle drive unit.

A method for operating a hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle includes: starting the motor vehicle solely with the aid of an electric machine; engaging a torque converter lockup clutch for rotationally fixing an impeller of a torque converter to a turbine wheel of the torque converter, wherein the turbine wheel is rotationally fixed to the electric machine; and engaging a clutch in order to drivingly connect the impeller to a motor vehicle drive unit, in order to start the motor vehicle drive unit.