A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.

A hybrid vehicle control method controls a hybrid vehicle. In this control method, a rotational speed command value for a power generation system is determined in accordance with a state of a drive system, a torque command value is determined for the power generation system such that the rotational speed of the power generation system reaches the rotational speed command value, a damping control is performed to suppress a characteristic vibration component generated in a connection between the engine and the power generator to calculate a final torque command value for the power generation system, and the torque command value is set as the final torque command value without performing the damping control upon determining a system resonance can occur that is caused by vibration of a component different from the characteristic vibration component.

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for controlling a cylinder deactivation (CDA) operation for an electrified powertrain, the electrified powertrain comprising an engine and an additional power source, the engine having a plurality of cylinders. The method includes the step of operating the electrified powertrain in a CDA mode and deactivating one or more selected cylinders of the plurality of cylinders; receiving measurement data indicative of operating conditions of the electrified powertrain; analyzing the measurement data to determine whether a predetermined operating condition is met; and adjusting the CDA operation by adjusting the duration of the CDA operation or changing a number of deactivated cylinders.

A vehicle controller is applied to a vehicle having an engine, a transmission, a clutch connecting and disconnecting a crankshaft of the engine and an input shaft of the transmission to each other, a vehicle wheel connected to a drive axle of the transmission, and an electric motor disposed to be capable of transmitting torque to the crankshaft The vehicle controller controls driving of the electric motor such that a rotation speed of the engine is reduced when an operation state of the engine shifts from operation to stop. The vehicle controller controls rotation of the crankshaft so as to avoid coincidence between a crank angle and a top dead center angle of the engine in a vibration amplification region amplifying an amplitude of vibration generated when the operation state of the engine shifts to the stop.

A hybrid drive train for a vehicle has at least one internal combustion engine with an internal combustion engine drive shaft, in particular a crankshaft, and at least one first electrical machine with a first electrical machine drive shaft. The internal combustion engine and the first electrical machine are designed to transfer a torque to at least one drive axle. A transmission has a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft which is operatively connected to a first drive axle that can be driven by the internal combustion engine. The transmission input shaft of the transmission is connected at least to the internal combustion engine drive shaft of the internal combustion engine in order to transfer a torque from the internal combustion engine to the transmission input shaft and further to the first drive axle. The transmission input shaft and the internal combustion engine drive shaft of the internal combustion engine are arranged parallel to each other.

Provided are a driving force control method and device for a hybrid vehicle, each capable of effectively absorbing torque fluctuation of an engine while suppressing deterioration in energy efficiency. The driving force control device for a hybrid vehicle comprises a PCM configured to: estimate an average torque output by an engine; estimate a torque fluctuation component of the torque output by the engine; set a countertorque for suppressing the estimated torque fluctuation component; and control an electric motor to output the set countertorque, wherein the PCM is operable, under the condition that the average torque output by the internal combustion engine is constant, to set a negative control gain such that, as an engine speed becomes higher, the absolute value of the control gain becomes smaller, and then to set the countertorque based on a product of the estimated torque fluctuation component and the control gain.

A vehicle drive system for a vehicle including a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, and a rechargeable power source can be configured for reduced fuel consumption at idle. The vehicle drive system includes an electric motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the first prime mover. The control system causes fuel to be eliminated to the first prime mover while the vehicle is stopped and causes the electric motor to rotate the first prime mover at a speed, thereby reducing fuel consumption at idle for the vehicle.

A driving torque command generating apparatus of a vehicle may include: a driving input sensor configured to detect a driving input value of a driver, including a pedal input value, in response to a manipulation of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle; a motor speed sensor configured to detect a motor speed of a drive motor of the vehicle; a wheel speed sensor configured to detect a wheel speed of a wheel of the vehicle; and a controller configured to obtain torsional state observation value information, which indicates a torsional state observation value derived from a vehicle drive system of the vehicle, according to the detected motor speed, the detected wheel speed, and a previously-generated motor torque command, and to generate a motor torque command based on the detected driving input value and the obtained torsional state observation value information.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for controlling operation of a vehicle. The system includes a microphone located in a passenger cabin of the vehicle and configured to detect sound data indicating noise in the passenger cabin. The system also includes a powertrain of the vehicle including an engine/motor for propelling the vehicle and a transmission of the vehicle having a plurality of gears. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle coupled to the microphone and the transmission. The ECU is configured to determine a powertrain torque limit based on the sound data, determine whether a torque output of the powertrain exceeds the powertrain torque limit, and instruct the transmission to downshift when the torque output of the powertrain exceeds the powertrain torque limit.

A four-wheel drive vehicle includes: a drive-power distribution device for transmitting a drive power of an engine toward main and auxiliary drive wheels, at a drive-power distribution ratio between the auxiliary drive wheels and the main drive wheels; and a control apparatus for executing a drive-power distribution control for adjusting the drive-power distribution ratio, and executing an engine automatic-start control for causing the engine to be started upon satisfaction of an engine-start condition. Upon execution of the engine automatic-start control, the control apparatus changes a target engine rotational speed from a predetermined engine-start rotational speed to a changed engine rotational speed, such that a difference of the changed engine rotational speed from a resonance rotational speed that causes resonance of a drive system to which the engine is connected in a power transmittable manner, is larger than a difference of the predetermined engine-start rotational speed from the resonance rotational speed.