A method for operating a hybrid vehicle that includes a prime mover (1) with an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (3), a transmission (4) connected between the prime mover (1) and a driven end (5), and multiple shift elements, including a separating clutch (7) connected between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric machine (3), and a starting component (8), is provided. After release of a brake pedal (12) or together with the release of the brake pedal (12) for a driving start or an crawling start, an engagement speed threshold (22) for the starting component (8) is established below an idling speed of the prime mover (1) and a previously disengaged starting component (8) is engaged. A control unit (9, 10, 11) for carrying out such a method is also provided.

A method for operating a hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle (X) which has a combustion engine (VM), a transmission (G), an electric machine (EM), as well as a separation clutch (KO) positioned between the combustion engine (VM) and the electric machine (EM). During a purely electric drive operation in which the separation clutch (KO) is disengaged and, when a gear is selected in the transmission (G), and during expectation, reaching, or exceeding a rotational speed difference of the separation clutch (KO) is larger or equal to a limit value, and/or in an expectation, reaching, or exceeding a rotational speed limit of the electric machine (EM), the separation clutch (KO) is engaged. Further, an electronic control unit (ECU) executes the method and a motor vehicle (X) having such an electronic control unit (ECU).

A method of operating a vehicle cruise control includes confirming, by a cruise controller, a cruise input while a vehicle travels, and releasing, by a clutch protection cruise control, a cruise operation based on an increase in a clutch temperature confirmed by a cruise control release condition one or more times during the cruise operation.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to limiting the use of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by particular occupants based on permission data. More specifically, permission data may include destinations, routes, and/or other information that is predefined or set by a third party. The vehicle may then access the permission data in order to transport the particular occupant to the predefined destination, for example, without deviation from the predefined route. The vehicle may drop the particular occupant off at the destination and may wait until the passenger is ready to move to another predefined destination. The permission data may be used to limit the ability of the particular occupant to change the route of the vehicle completely or by some maximum deviation value. For example, the vehicle may be able to deviate from the route up to a particular distance from or along the route.

A drive torque of an electric motor for driving a driveline included in a driveline assembly of a motor vehicle can be controlled as a function of the vehicle speed in such a way that, when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined threshold value, the electric motor is controlled in a high torque mode and, when the vehicle speed is above the threshold value, the electric motor is controlled in a low torque mode.

A method controls a drive system for an axle of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive system has at least an electrical machine as drive unit, a drive shaft which is driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft and a second output shaft and also a first clutch which connects the drive shaft to the first output shaft and a second clutch which connects the drive shaft to the second output shaft.

A method controls a drive system for an axle of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive system has at least an electrical machine as drive unit, a drive shaft which is driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft and a second output shaft and also a first clutch which connects the drive shaft to the first output shaft and a second clutch which connects the drive shaft to the second output shaft.

A smart driveline disconnect assembly having a torque coupling assembly, an actuator, at least one sensor and a controller is provided. The torque coupling assembly is configured to selectively couple torque between a transmission and a final drive assembly. The actuator is configured to activate the torque coupling assembly. The at least one sensor is used to generate sensor information. The controller is configured to control the actuator based at least in part on the sensor information. The controller is further configured to determine at least a thermal energy level associated with the torque coupling assembly based on the sensor information and at least in part control the actuator based on the determined estimated thermal energy level.

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, torque requests are aligned in time to compensate for a delay that may be caused by broadcasting one or more torque commands over a controller area network or another type of communication link. The torque requests may be aligned via delaying an engine torque request and predicting an electric machine torque.

A method for operating a hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle (X) which has a combustion engine (VM), a transmission (G), an electric machine (EM), as well as a separation clutch (KO) positioned between the combustion engine (VM) and the electric machine (EM). During a purely electric drive operation in which the separation clutch (KO) is disengaged and, when a gear is selected in the transmission (G), and during expectation, reaching, or exceeding a rotational speed difference of the separation clutch (KO) is larger or equal to a limit value, and/or in an expectation, reaching, or exceeding a rotational speed limit of the electric machine (EM), the separation clutch (KO) is engaged. Further, an electronic control unit (ECU) executes the method and a motor vehicle (X) having such an electronic control unit (ECU).