A control apparatus of a hybrid leaning vehicle includes: a travel mode request section that requests one travel mode selected from a plurality of travel modes including a first travel mode in which an engine is operated with a clutch disengaged and a second travel mode in which the engine is operated with the clutch engaged; and a travel mode setting section. When the travel mode request section requests the second travel mode during travel in the first travel mode, the travel mode setting section, upon determining that a shock accepting condition is satisfied, sets the second travel mode as the travel mode to be executed and, upon determining that the shock accepting condition is not satisfied, prohibits the second travel mode from being set as the travel mode to be executed.

A hybrid vehicle includes a connecting/disconnecting clutch disposed between an engine and an electric motor, an automatic transmission including an input clutch, a starting clutch disposed between the electric motor and the automatic transmission, and a control apparatus for executing an engine-start control operation for starting the engine, by igniting the engine after increasing a rotational speed of the engine by a torque of the electric motor while placing the connecting/disconnecting clutch into an engaged state. In process of the engine-start control operation that is executed when the hybrid vehicle is in a stopped state with the starting clutch being in a released state, the control apparatus places the input clutch in an engaged state until the rotational speed of the engine exceeds a predetermined speed value, and switches the input clutch to a released state after the rotational speed of the engine has exceeded the predetermined speed value.

An exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine includes a particulate filter (also referred to as GPF) to collect particulate matter (PM) in exhaust gas, an automatic transmission including a torque converter with a lock-up clutch, and a controller that controls the internal combustion engine to perform fuel cut when the internal combustion engine is decelerating and a temperature correlation value of lubricating oil (ATF) is higher than a determination value, and controls the automatic transmission to engage the lock-up clutch during execution of the fuel cut. The controller is configured to estimate a deposit amount of PM deposited on the GPF, and change the determination value to a smaller value than before the deposit amount exceeds a first deposit amount when the deposit amount exceeds a predetermined first deposit amount.

A method for determines the drive train sensitivity of a drive train of a motor vehicle. A vehicle body is placed in longitudinal oscillations in the direction of travel and a parameter for the drive train sensitivity is determined as a function of the determined longitudinal accelerations of the vehicle body and the resultant angular accelerations of a transmission input shaft of a transmission of the motor vehicle.

A vehicle running mode control method may include detecting, by a mode controller, a mode switching from an electric vehicle mode (EV mode) to a hybrid electric vehicle mode (HEV mode) while a vehicle runs; and performing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) cooperative mode switching control in which a drive motor is connected to an engine by engaging a clutch by operating the CVT.

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, an actual total number of transmission gear downshifts are counted to determine whether or not a transmission clutch characterization is immature. The transmission clutch characterization may be adjusted if it is determined to be immature.

An exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine includes a particulate filter (also referred to as GPF) to collect particulate matter (PM) in exhaust gas, an automatic transmission including a torque converter with a lock-up clutch, and a controller that controls the internal combustion engine to perform fuel cut when the internal combustion engine is decelerating and a temperature correlation value of lubricating oil (ATF) is higher than a determination value, and controls the automatic transmission to engage the lock-up clutch during execution of the fuel cut. The controller is configured to estimate a deposit amount of PM deposited on the GPF, and change the determination value to a smaller value than before the deposit amount exceeds a first deposit amount when the deposit amount exceeds a predetermined first deposit amount.

A drive train unit for a motor vehicle includes a housing and an input shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and arranged for attachment to an output of a transmission in a rotationally fixed manner. The input shaft has a first input shaft section and a second input shaft section that can move axially in relation to the first input shaft section. The drive train unit may include an electric machine arranged parallel to the input shaft, and a first clutch. The electric machine has a rotor and the first clutch arranged to connect the rotor and the input shaft for torque transmission in a shift position. The drive train may include an output shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and arranged for rotational coupling to a distributer transmission, and a second clutch arranged to connect the input shaft and the output shaft for torque transmission in a shift position.

A hybrid vehicle controller is configured to: upon receiving a predetermined mode switching request, bring a clutch into a half-clutch state to start an engine using rotation of a transmission shaft; and upon determining that the engine has started, shift the clutch from the half-clutch state to a stand-by state and subsequently shift the clutch to an engaged state, the stand-by state being a state which is intermediate between the half-clutch state and a disengaged state and in which drive power of the engine is not transmitted to the transmission shaft.

An ECU executes a first control when an automatic transmission has a shift range changed from an N range to a D range. In the first control, the ECU initially rotates an EOP and also sets a motor generator's rotational speed to a prescribed rotational speed. The ECU rapidly engages a Drive clutch while maintaining the motor generator's rotational speed at the prescribed rotational speed. The ECU then increases the motor generator's rotational speed to a target rotational speed set for the D range.