A hybrid vehicle includes an engine that drives first wheel, and a motor that drives second wheel. The hybrid vehicle includes (1) a minute speed launch support mode where the hybrid vehicle is driven only by the motor as a drive source, (2) a sudden launch support mode where the hybrid vehicle is driven by the engine and motor as the drive source, and (3) a smooth launch support mode where the hybrid vehicle is driven only by the motor as the drive source in an early stage, is driven by the engine and motor in a middle stage, and is driven only by the engine in a late stage, and if an operation amount of an acceleration instruction unit is not 0 or is substantially not 0, any one of the support modes is executed according to an operation status of the acceleration instruction unit.

A method controls state changes of a drivetrain of a vehicle connecting at least one heat engine and/or one electric motor to the wheels of the vehicle via a transmission, providing the transfer of torque from the heat engine and/or from the electric motor to the wheels in one or more gear ratios. The authorization to switch from a current state to a target state depends on reducing an acceleration of the vehicle in an intermediate state causing a lower acceleration of the vehicle during the transition between the current state and the target state.

A method controls state changes of a drivetrain of a vehicle connecting at least one heat engine and/or one electric motor to the wheels of the vehicle via a transmission, providing the transfer of torque from the heat engine and/or from the electric motor to the wheels in one or more gear ratios. The authorization to switch from a current state to a target state depends on reducing an acceleration of the vehicle in an intermediate state causing a lower acceleration of the vehicle during the transition between the current state and the target state.

A method, apparatus, and system for modifying acceleration characteristics of an electric vehicle is disclosed. A persistent input throttle command signal that starts at a first time instant is received at a vehicle control system of a first vehicle that is a first type vehicle. A transformed throttle command signal is generated based on the persistent input throttle signal and a present time at the vehicle control system. An engine operation of the first vehicle is controlled based on the transformed throttle command signal at the vehicle control system. Controlling the engine operation of the first vehicle based on the transformed throttle command signal causes the engine power output of the first vehicle to be associated with a second acceleration performance curve that is associated with a second type vehicle.

A method, apparatus, and system for modifying acceleration characteristics of an electric vehicle is disclosed. A persistent input throttle command signal that starts at a first time instant is received at a vehicle control system of a first vehicle that is a first type vehicle. A transformed throttle command signal is generated based on the persistent input throttle signal and a present time at the vehicle control system. An engine operation of the first vehicle is controlled based on the transformed throttle command signal at the vehicle control system. Controlling the engine operation of the first vehicle based on the transformed throttle command signal causes the engine power output of the first vehicle to be associated with a second acceleration performance curve that is associated with a second type vehicle.

When an output limitation value of a battery is equal to or less than a threshold, an electronic control unit determines that basic torque is able to be output from a second motor to a drive shaft. Then, the electronic control unit sets a predetermined value as a target motoring rotation speed for ending motoring of an engine by a first motor. When the output limitation value is greater than the threshold, the electronic control unit determines that the basic torque is unable to be output from the second motor to the drive shaft at the time of starting the engine, and sets a value smaller than the predetermined value as the target motoring rotation speed.

A system and method of utilizing a power boost feature is disclosed. The power boost feature enables the vehicle to produce a greater amount of power when needed, for example, to provide launch assist or overtake assist in a vehicle. A power boost request processor may receive information from a plurality of information systems of the vehicle, including, for example, vehicle mass, enablement of an accelerator pedal kick down switch, an amount of time passed between power boost system functions as communicated by a timer, operation and/or status of a cooling system, system enablement, transmission enablement, vehicle speed, position of an accelerator pedal, grade of the road as communicated by a road-grade sensor, actual vehicle power, actual available vehicle power, available battery power, look ahead information, powertrain health, route information, existence of emission zones, weather, and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle. In one example, a method for the vehicle includes adjusting an output torque of an electric machine to produce a desired vehicle speed and direction of propulsion while operating an auxiliary load powered via the transmission. The output torque may be adjusted while disengaging clutches of a transmission or a service brake to mechanically unlock an output shaft of the transmission. The first electric machine may be operated in a speed control to learn an amount to torque to hold the vehicle speed at zero and the amount of learned torque may be superimposed with an amount of requested torque upon vehicle launch.

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle. In one example, a method for the vehicle includes adjusting an output torque of an electric machine to produce a desired vehicle speed and direction of propulsion while operating an auxiliary load powered via the transmission. The output torque may be adjusted while disengaging clutches of a transmission or a service brake to mechanically unlock an output shaft of the transmission. The first electric machine may be operated in a speed control to learn an amount to torque to hold the vehicle speed at zero and the amount of learned torque may be superimposed with an amount of requested torque upon vehicle launch.

The present disclosure relates to a hybrid electric vehicle configured to respond to a required torque while reducing exhaust gas emission in a situation where catalyst heating of an engine is not completed, and a driving control method for the hybrid electric vehicle. The driving control method of the hybrid electric vehicle comprises entering catalyst heating control of an engine when there is a request for catalyst heating and a required torque exceeds a first threshold during traveling in a first mode using an electric motor as a driving source, and entering acceleration feeling increase control when the required torque exceeds a second threshold greater than the first threshold, in which the second threshold is set between the first threshold and a third threshold that is a reference for an entry into a second mode using the engine as the driving source.