A hybrid vehicle includes a battery, a generating unit having an internal combustion engine and a generator which generates electric power by operating the internal combustion engine to supply the generated electric power to a motor or the battery, and the motor which is driven by the electric power supplied from at least one of the battery and the generating unit. A generation control apparatus for the hybrid vehicle evaluates the driving condition of the vehicle from viewpoints of the energy consumption at the motor, the NV performance of the vehicle and the generation efficiency of the generating unit and determines whether or not the operation of the generating unit is necessary based on an evaluation parameter of any one or more viewpoints.

A hybrid vehicle includes a battery, a generating unit having an internal combustion engine and a generator which generates electric power by operating the internal combustion engine to supply the generated electric power to a motor or the battery, and the motor which is driven by the electric power supplied from at least one of the battery and the generating unit. A generation control apparatus for the hybrid vehicle evaluates the driving condition of the vehicle from viewpoints of the energy consumption at the motor, the NV performance of the vehicle and the generation efficiency of the generating unit and determines whether or not the operation of the generating unit is necessary based on an evaluation parameter of any one or more viewpoints.

If a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value when a hybrid control mode is a series mode and a charge mode is selected (S10-S14), it is determined whether an SOC of a high voltage battery is less than a predetermined value or not (S16), and when the SOC of the high voltage battery is less than the predetermined value, ignition timing is corrected to be retarded (S18).

If a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value when a hybrid control mode is a series mode and a charge mode is selected (S10-S14), it is determined whether an SOC of a high voltage battery is less than a predetermined value or not (S16), and when the SOC of the high voltage battery is less than the predetermined value, ignition timing is corrected to be retarded (S18).

A vehicle drive apparatus includes: an engine; a rotary machine; an output member coupled to a drive wheel of a vehicle; a differential mechanism configured to couple the engine, the rotary machine, and the output member together to be differentially rotatable via a plurality of differentially rotatable rotational elements; and an elastic member configured to couple a rotation shaft of the rotary machine to the rotational element of the differential mechanism to be relatively rotatable.

A vehicle drive apparatus includes: an engine; a rotary machine; an output member coupled to a drive wheel of a vehicle; a differential mechanism configured to couple the engine, the rotary machine, and the output member together to be differentially rotatable via a plurality of differentially rotatable rotational elements; and an elastic member configured to couple a rotation shaft of the rotary machine to the rotational element of the differential mechanism to be relatively rotatable.

Disclosed is a control method for an internal combustion engine (3) including a power generation motor (4) driven by a power of the internal combustion engine (3) and a damper (30) provided between the internal combustion engine (3) and the power generation motor (4) in a power transmission path, wherein a maximum value of a torque fluctuation generated in an event of a misfire occurring in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine (3) is larger than a value at which a displacement of a main damper (30a) of the damper (30) is allowed to be suppressed to be smaller than a displacement at which abutting occurs on a first stopper (31a) by a counter torque of the power generation motor (4), and the control method includes limiting a torque (Te) of the internal combustion engine (3) within a range in which a displacement of the main damper (30a) is allowed to be controlled to be smaller than a displacement at which abutting occurs on the first stopper (31a) by a counter torque of the power generation motor (4).

Disclosed is a control method for an internal combustion engine (3) including a power generation motor (4) driven by a power of the internal combustion engine (3) and a damper (30) provided between the internal combustion engine (3) and the power generation motor (4) in a power transmission path, wherein a maximum value of a torque fluctuation generated in an event of a misfire occurring in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine (3) is larger than a value at which a displacement of a main damper (30a) of the damper (30) is allowed to be suppressed to be smaller than a displacement at which abutting occurs on a first stopper (31a) by a counter torque of the power generation motor (4), and the control method includes limiting a torque (Te) of the internal combustion engine (3) within a range in which a displacement of the main damper (30a) is allowed to be controlled to be smaller than a displacement at which abutting occurs on the first stopper (31a) by a counter torque of the power generation motor (4).

An actuator arrangement for applying a torque to a shaft of a machine, in particular a reciprocating piston engine, includes: a) at least one actuator device for applying the torque; and b) at least one rotatable seismic mass coupled to the shaft. The at least one actuator device is designed to apply the torque to the shaft between the seismic mass and the shaft. A corresponding method is provided for active damping of torsional vibrations of the shaft having the actuator arrangement.

Methods and systems are provided for improving surge control. When surge conditions are anticipated, motor torque usage is increased to discharge a battery to a lower state of charge. When surge conditions actually occur, engine torque output is limited to a higher level than the engine output required to meet the reduced torque demand, while the excess wheel torque is offset by charging the battery to a higher state of charge.