A hybrid power system comprises an engine, a motor, an electromagnetic clutch, an electromagnetic clutch controller and a power supply system. The power supply system comprises: a low-voltage battery, a standby power supply system and a switching circuit. The electromagnetic clutch is used to control connection of the motor. A control method comprises: monitoring whether a voltage of the low-voltage battery is lower than a target value, and judging whether the low-voltage battery fails; using the switching circuit to switch to the standby power supply system to supply power to the electromagnetic clutch and the electromagnetic clutch controller; using the electromagnetic clutch controller to judge an engaged or disengaged state of the electromagnetic clutch; and further controlling the electromagnetic clutch according to the engaged or disengaged state. When the low-voltage battery power supply fails, the switching circuit switches to the standby power supply system to supply power.

A hybrid powertrain includes a torque provider, an automatic transmission without a torque converter, and a transfer case configured for providing four wheel drive low range. A controller receives a signal indicative of the transfer case being in low range and determines if brake pedal torque is indicative of a brake pedal being released and, if so, commands engagement of a launch clutch of the transmission up to maximum creep torque capacity at a predetermined maximum gradient. The controller determines when torque provider speed is synchronized with vehicle creep speed, and upon such determination, controls the launch clutch to fully engage to a lock up state to mimic behavior of engagement of a manual transmission gear when the hybrid powertrain is in low range to thereby substantially eliminate a time lag associated with automatic transmissions having a torque converter or a constantly slipping launch clutch.

A travel control apparatus including a driving level switching portion switching to a first driving automation level involving a driver responsibility to monitor surroundings or a second driving automation level not involving the driver responsibility to monitor the surroundings, a distance measurement device measuring an inter-vehicle distance to a forward vehicle, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor performs controlling an equipment according to the inter-vehicle distance so as to follow the forward vehicle, controlling the equipment so that the self-driving vehicle starts when the inter-vehicle distance increases up to a predetermined value, and determining a first predetermined value as the predetermined value when the driving automation level is switched to the first driving automation level and a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value as the predetermined value when the driving automation level is switched to the second driving automation level.

A method and device for controlling an engine clutch of a hybrid vehicle are provided. The method includes setting a target speed of an engine to change a driving mode of the hybrid vehicle from an EV mode to an HEV mode and operating a HSG to adjust an engine speed to reach the target speed. An engine clutch that connects the engine with a driving motor or disconnects the engine from the driving motor is engaged to start when the speed of the engine is maintained at the target speed. A kiss point generated when the engine clutch is in a slip state is detected to learn the kiss point of the engine clutch and an output of the engine is increased based on a driver required torque when the speed of the engine and a speed of the driving motor are synchronized after the kiss point is learned.

A driving force control device for saddled vehicle includes a transmission that transmits driving force of an engine to a driving wheel of a vehicle at predetermined reduction ratio; a clutch that connects/disconnects the driving force between the engine and the transmission; and a controller that controls the transmission and the clutch. The controller permits selection of a normal mode in which the reduction ratio of the transmission is varied according to a running condition and a slow mode permitting slow forward movement and slow backward movement by varying the reduction ratio of the transmission to a fixed reduction ratio according to predetermined operation, and the controller holds the clutch in a partial clutch engagement condition so as to prevent the vehicle from moving forward or backward when the slow mode is selected and no predetermined operation is performed.

A wheel loader includes a forward clutch, an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and a controller configured to control hydraulic pressure of hydraulic oil supplied to the forward clutch. The controller performs clutch hydraulic pressure control for reducing the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil supplied to the forward clutch according to an operation amount of the brake pedal on condition that at least the brake pedal is operated while the accelerator pedal is being operated. The controller continues the clutch hydraulic pressure control even after the clutch shifts from a complete engagement state to a semi-engagement state by the clutch hydraulic pressure control.

A method of controlling a vehicle presenting a plurality of wheels, an engine and a clutch for selectively connecting the engine to a number of the wheels includes receiving a torque control signal indicative of a demanded output torque of the engine, and observing a value of a first vehicle operation parameter being the vehicle speed or a parameter which is indicative of the vehicle speed, controlling the clutch so as to be engaged if the received torque control signal indicates that the demanded engine torque is minimal or below a first threshold value and the observed first vehicle operation parameter value is above a second threshold value,
subsequently to the step of controlling the clutch so as to be engaged, performing a test disengagement of the clutch, including at least partly disengaging the clutch,
observing a behavior, in response to the test disengagement, of a second vehicle operation parameter, and
based at least partly on the observation of the behavior of the second vehicle operation parameter, determining whether to control the clutch so as to be re-engaged or disengaged.

A control device for a vehicle, the vehicle includes a transmission provided in a power transmission path between a drive power source and drive wheels. The control device includes an electronic control unit configured to i) shift the transmission according to traveling conditions, ii) switch a driving mode for running the vehicle between autonomous driving under autonomous driving control, and manual driving based on driving operation of a driver, and iii) shift the transmission such that a shift time required for shifting of the transmission during the manual driving is shorter than a shift time required for shifting of the transmission during the autonomous driving.

System and methods are provided for improving fuel economy of a hybrid vehicle. A hybrid vehicle may include an EV driving mode, where the motor alone powers the hybrid vehicle. However, use of such a driving mode may be limited to conditions involving low drive force and power requests due to motor and battery power specifications. In some circumstances, the conditions during which the motor can be used to power the hybrid vehicle can be expanded. Such conditions may include instances where the driver only seeks light accelerations for a short period of time. Such an expanded EV mode may be triggered when the hybrid vehicle is travelling a downhill grade.

A low-voltage hybrid powertrain system for a vehicle includes an engine that is coupled via an engine disconnect clutch to an input member of the transmission, and a low-voltage electric machine is coupled to the transmission. The powertrain system operates in an electric vehicle (EV) mode with the engine in an OFF state and with the engine disconnect clutch in an open/deactivated state. When an output torque request indicates a command for vehicle acceleration, the electric machine is controlled to generate torque in response to the output torque request and the engine is simultaneously cranked and started. Upon starting, the engine operates in a speed control mode to activate the engine disconnect clutch. The engine and the low-voltage electric machine are controlled to generate torque in response to the output torque request when the engine disconnect clutch is activated.