A vehicle system comprises an engine driving a vehicle, a front wheel and a rear wheel, a suspension device with an attachment portion to a vehicle body which is located at a higher level than a center axis of the rear wheel, an electromagnetic coupling to distribute a torque of the engine to the front wheel and the rear wheel, a steering wheel to be operated by a driver, a steering angle sensor to detect a steering angle corresponding to operation of the steering wheel, and a controller to control the engine and the electromagnetic coupling. The controller is configured to control the electromagnetic coupling such that the torque distributed to the rear wheel is increased in accordance with turning operation of the steering wheel which is detected by the steering angle sensor.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling a power plant during use of a power take-off (PTO) device, wherein the responsiveness and stability of the controller are adjustable by an operator in the field. The use of setting maps allows fine tuning of controller responsiveness while also ensuring that expected performance would be achieved at any setting within the setting map. In some embodiments, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is used to control engine speed, and gains for the proportional, integral, and derivative terms are obtained from setting maps based on a responsiveness setting chosen by a vehicle operator.

The present invention relates generally to techniques for improving fuel efficiency of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine capable of operating at various displacement levels. An autonomous driving unit or cruise controller selects when possible an engine torque output that corresponds to a fuel efficient displacement level. The resultant vehicle speed profile and NVH level is acceptable to vehicle occupants.

Disclosed herein is a method of more quickly heating the cabin air in a hybrid electric vehicle. In one aspect, when a switch is engaged, and a temperature sensor indicates that an ambient temperature is below a predetermined threshold, and an engine coolant temperature is below a predetermined threshold, the method allows for operation of the vehicle in a charge sustaining mode in order to increase the load on the engine and generate more heat for the cabin.

A method for influencing the energy consumption during the operation of a motor, particularly a motor in a vehicle, to reduce the total amount of energy consumed. A setpoint value that is based on a parameter that correlates with the energy consumed by the motor is defined. The parameter can be distance consumption, for example, mpg or liter/100 km, or some other parameter that correlates with the energy consumed. The actual value of the parameter is calculated during operation of the motor and compared with the setpoint value. Energy consumption is reduced if the actual value exceeds the setpoint. The method allows some flexibility in defining how frequently or when a reduction in the energy consumption is effected, in order to accommodate particular operating or driving conditions or driving behavior. One example of the variation is a consumption credit that possibly allows an overrun of the setpoint value.

A hybrid electric powertrain system includes a transmission, engine, e-accessory, primary and secondary electric machines, and controller. The e-accessory is powered by the secondary electric machine in response to an accessory torque demand. The engine and primary electric machine are connected to the transmission and configured, alone or in combination, to provide input drive torque to the transmission. The secondary electric machine is connected to the e-accessory and satisfies the accessory torque demand. A first clutch between the secondary electric machine and a transmission input member connects the secondary electric machine to the input member. The controller, in response to an output torque request, executes a power-sharing strategy using an objective cost function that allocates engine torque, primary motor torque, and secondary motor torque to the input member to satisfy the output torque request, while satisfying the accessory torque demand via the secondary electric machine.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein provide for receiving internal vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information; controlling the operation of one or more electronic accessories of the vehicle based on the received information; and managing a power supply for the one or more electronic accessories based on the energy usage and the operation of the electronic accessories.

A hybrid electric powertrain system includes a transmission, engine, e-accessory, primary and secondary electric machines, and controller. The e-accessory is powered by the secondary electric machine in response to an accessory torque demand. The engine and primary electric machine are connected to the transmission and configured, alone or in combination, to provide input drive torque to the transmission. The secondary electric machine is connected to the e-accessory and satisfies the accessory torque demand. A first clutch between the secondary electric machine and a transmission input member connects the secondary electric machine to the input member. The controller, in response to an output torque request, executes a power-sharing strategy using an objective cost function that allocates engine torque, primary motor torque, and secondary motor torque to the input member to satisfy the output torque request, while satisfying the accessory torque demand via the secondary electric machine.

Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel economy by opportunistically lowering engine idle speed below a base idle speed when electrical loads are not present. A hydraulic brake pressure is increased when the idle speed is raised, in anticipation of vehicle propulsion. The brake pressure counteracts any creep torque and unintended vehicle acceleration resulting from the rising engine idle speed.

Disclosed are a vehicle control unit (VCU) and an operation method thereof that calculate a speed variation of a vehicle based on input information, predict an average speed of the vehicle based on the calculated speed variation, generate a first speed profile based on the predicted average speed, and generate a second speed profile by applying speed noise information to the first speed profile.