An engine control unit (400) for a full hybrid engine (100, 101) is provided. The full hybrid engine (100, 101) comprises an internal combustion engine (110) and an electric motor (120). The internal combustion engine (110) is coupled to the drivetrain via a clutch (130). The engine control unit (400) is configured to operate the internal combustion engine (110) in a lean-burn mode, to determine a current load level of the full hybrid engine (100, 101), and to compare the current load level to a lean-burn load threshold (210). The lean-burn load threshold (210) defines a load level below which stable operation of the internal combustion engine (110) in the lean-burn mode is impossible and/or undesirable. If the current load level of the full hybrid engine (100, 101) is below the lean-burn load threshold (210), the internal combustion engine (110) is decoupled from the drivetrain and the full hybrid engine (100, 101) is operated in an electric mode.

A vehicle control device includes: a change gear ratio changing circuit configured to execute an up-shift of a change gear ratio in an automatic transmission; a change gear ratio determination circuit configured to determine whether or not an up-shift condition is satisfied based on a change gear diagrammatic view; a combustion mode determination circuit configured to determine whether or not a switching condition for switching from a predetermined combustion mode, in which an air-fuel ratio of the engine is an air-fuel ratio on a rich side than a lean air-fuel ratio, to a supercharged lean combustion mode, in which the air-fuel ratio of an engine is made to the lean air-fuel ratio while executing supercharging by a supercharger, is satisfied; and a change regulating circuit configured to regulate the change gear ratio changing circuit to execute the up-shift at the time both conditions are satisfied.

An apparatus and a method for controlling an engine operating point of a hybrid electric vehicle are provided to determine charging and discharging tendency based on a moving average of an engine torque and a demand torque as well as a dynamical event capture. The method includes detecting a demand torque of a driver and determining a charging and discharging tendency by calculating a moving average based on the demand torque. System efficiency is then reflected using a dynamical event capture and the charging and discharging tendency is leveled. A compensation amount of the operating point is also determined based on the leveling of the charging and discharging tendency and the operating point of the hybrid electric vehicle is adjusted based on the compensation amount of the operating point.

A method of optimizing fuel economy and reduced noise and vibration levels in a vehicle includes one or more of the following steps: evaluating an engine speed and a speed of the vehicle, determining if the engine speed and the speed of the vehicle produces a noise level that causes a potential customer complaint, monitoring the noise level in the vehicle, calculating the engine operating condition that causes the noise level, determining if the noise level is above a threshold, adjusting an engine torque or a slip condition of a torque converter for optimal vehicle fuel economy if the noise level is at or below the threshold, and, if the noise level is above the threshold, adjusting the engine torque or the slip condition of the torque converter such that the noise level is at or below the threshold.

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first motor, a planetary gear mechanism, a second motor, a battery, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: control the engine, the first motor, and the second motor such that the hybrid vehicle travels using a required driving force; set a target rotation speed on a basis of the depression amount of the accelerator pedal, the vehicle speed, and a shift stage such that the target rotation speed of the engine increases as the depression amount of the accelerator pedal increases; set an upper-limit driving force; and control the engine, the first motor, and the second motor such that the engine operates at the target rotation speed and the smaller driving force of the upper-limit driving force and the required driving force is output to the drive shaft.

An alternator voltage may be controlled based on a proportional gain scheduling in response to an engine load of an internal combustion engine and/or a state of charge (SOC) deviation for a battery based on a target SOC of the battery and an actual SOC of the battery. The alternator voltage may be a voltage less than a current battery voltage under high engine loads to enable the battery to power an accessory system and the alternator voltage may be a voltage greater than a voltage of the battery under low engine loads or engine loads less than high engine loads to enable the alternator to charge the battery.

Coordinates of a point, representing a current pair of states of a vehicle, can be determined to be outside of a first curve. An interior of the first curve, representing a first region of operation of the vehicle, can be characterized by values of forces produced by tires being less than a saturation force. A distance between the point and a second curve can be determined. An interior of the second curve, representing a second region of operation of the vehicle, can be characterized by an ability of an operation of a control system to cause the vehicle to change from being operated in the current pair of states to being operated in the first region of operation. A manner in which the vehicle changes from being operated in the current pair of states to being operated in a different pair of states can be controlled based on the distance.

A method of operating a vehicle having an engine, a throttle valve and a throttle operator. A continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine has a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a belt operatively connecting the driving and driven pulleys. A ground engaging member is operatively connected to the driven pulley. A piston is operatively connected to the driving pulley for applying a piston force thereto and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley. A control unit controls actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes detecting a stall condition indicative of the vehicle being stalled, and, responsive to the detection, setting the piston force to be zero.

A vehicle includes a transmission, a torque converter coupled to the transmission, a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission, and sensors configured to detect occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.

A vehicle includes a transmission; a torque converter coupled to the transmission; a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission; and sensors configured to detect user occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one or both of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.