A vehicle control apparatus calculates a target speed value of an engine rotational speed that is required to provide a required torque value of an engine brake torque, and controls shifting of an automatic transmission such that the engine rotational speed is approximated to the target speed value of the engine rotational speed. The vehicle control apparatus determines whether the target speed value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. When the target speed value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the vehicle control apparatus controls the shifting of the automatic transmission such that the engine rotational speed is held not higher than the predetermined threshold value, and controls a throttle valve such that the throttle valve is opened.

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that includes one or more controller(s) configured to manage electric only and combustion engine drive modes, and at start-up, to generate a trip distance, and to detect an electric drive range, and battery, cabin, and powertrain thermal demands, among other conditions. The controller(s) engage a combustion engine drive mode if the distance exceeds the range, and the thermal demands exceed respective thresholds. The controller(s) also engage an electric drive mode if the range exceeds the distance, and the threshold exceed the thermal demands. Further variations include the controller(s) responsive to receiving a destination, and communicating the destination to a navigation system, and detecting if a charge event is likely to occur at the destination. In other arrangements, the controller(s) also adjust the trip distance upon detecting an historical probability of a charge event at the destination and whether the destination is a final destination.

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that includes one or more controller(s) configured to manage electric only and combustion engine drive modes, and at start-up, to generate a trip distance, and to detect an electric drive range, and battery, cabin, and powertrain thermal demands, among other conditions. The controller(s) engage a combustion engine drive mode if the distance exceeds the range, and the thermal demands exceed respective thresholds. The controller(s) also engage an electric drive mode if the range exceeds the distance, and the threshold exceed the thermal demands. Further variations include the controller(s) responsive to receiving a destination, and communicating the destination to a navigation system, and detecting if a charge event is likely to occur at the destination. In other arrangements, the controller(s) also adjust the trip distance upon detecting an historical probability of a charge event at the destination and whether the destination is a final destination.

A drive force control system for hybrid vehicles configured to reduce a change in a drive force simultaneous execution of a starting operation of an engine and a shifting operation of a transmission. The drive force control is applied to a hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine connected to front wheels; a first motor connected to rear wheels; and a transmission that changes a speed ratio between the first motor and the rear wheels. A controller restricts execution of any one of an engine staring operation and a shifting operation of the transmission during execution of other one of the engine staring operation and shifting operation of the transmission.

Provided is a hybrid vehicle control system, the hybrid vehicle control system including: a differential mechanism; an engine; a first motor; a driving wheel; a second motor; an engaging mechanism; a selector that selects neutral in which torque transmission from the engine to the driving wheel through the differential mechanism is interrupted; and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to set either mechanical neutral or electrical neutral when the neutral is selected, and to set the mechanical neutral when the neutral is selected while the speed of the engine is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed.

An infinitely variable transmission (IVT) provides a plurality of transmission modes. At least one mode is a serial mode and at least one other mode is a split-path mode. The IVT provides substantially seamless shifting between the plurality of transmission modes.

A power train and related vehicle provides multi-mode power transmission. A first continuously variable power source (CVP) may convert rotational power received by the engine for transmission to a second CVP. A variator assembly may receive rotational power from the second CVP at a first input and directly from the engine at a second input. A control assembly may allow the power train to shift between multiple modes, such as a series mode, a split-path mode, and a direct mode. The control assembly may provide seamless shifting between at least two of these modes.

A power train and related vehicle provides multi-mode power transmission. A first continuously variable power source (CVP) may convert rotational power received by the engine for transmission to a second CVP. A variator assembly may receive rotational power from the second CVP at a first input and directly from the engine at a second input. A control assembly may allow the power train to shift between multiple modes, such as a series mode, a split-path mode, and a direct mode. The control assembly may provide seamless shifting between at least two of these modes.

An electronic control unit of a hybrid vehicle controls an engine and an inverter to execute inverterless traveling. The inverterless traveling is a traveling state where the inverter is set to a gate blocking state, and where a reaction force of a torque that is output by a rotating electric device when the rotating electric device to be rotated by output of the engine generates electric power is applied to an output shaft. The electronic control unit controls a converter to adjust a voltage of an electric power line to a predetermined maximum voltage or a voltage within a predetermined range from the maximum voltage when a shift range of the hybrid vehicle is switched to a non-forward range from a forward range during the inverterless traveling.

An electronic control unit of a hybrid vehicle controls an engine and an inverter to execute inverterless traveling. The inverterless traveling is a traveling state where the inverter is set to a gate blocking state, and where a reaction force of a torque that is output by a rotating electric device when the rotating electric device to be rotated by output of the engine generates electric power is applied to an output shaft. The electronic control unit controls a converter to adjust a voltage of an electric power line to a predetermined maximum voltage or a voltage within a predetermined range from the maximum voltage when a shift range of the hybrid vehicle is switched to a non-forward range from a forward range during the inverterless traveling.