A hybrid vehicle without having a torque converter that can be launched rapidly and accelerated sharply in a WOT condition. The hybrid vehicle comprises a motor operated by an engine torque to generate electricity, and a clutch for selectively transmitting power between the first motor and drive wheels. The hybrid vehicle is launched by engaging the clutch to deliver the engine torque to the drive wheels. A torque absorbing control is executed to reduce the engine torque delivered to the clutch by operating the motor by the torque of the engine, when the clutch is disengaged and an accelerator pedal is depressed.

A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to plan a plurality of vehicle speeds for an upcoming road segment, adjust one or more of the planned speeds based on a predicted torque loss including a penalty based on a predicted torque impeller speed, and actuate a propulsion according to the planned speeds to lock a torque converter clutch.

A powertrain (12) for a vehicle (10) is disclosed. The powertrain (12) comprises: a combustion engine (24), (ii) a drivetrain (14) having a torque converter (32) with a first state of operation in which the input (34) of the torque converter (32) is locked to the output (36) of the torque converter (32) and a second state of operation in which the input (34) of the torque converter (32) is not locked to the output (36) of the torque converter (32) for allowing slippage. The drivetrain also has a final drive (44) for supplying torque to the drive wheel (16) from the torque converter (32), wherein the final drive (44) is coupled to the torque converter (32) at a fixed gear ratio. The powertrain (12) further comprises: (iii) a first electric motor (28) configured to supply torque to the drivetrain (14) on the output-side of the torque converter (32).

A vehicle drive unit to prevent a single phase lock of a motor as a prime mover to limit damage is provided. The drive unit includes: a first transmission route to deliver drive force of an engine to drive wheels; and a second transmission route to deliver drive force of a motor to the drive wheels. The second transmission route comprises an intermediate shaft that transmits the drive force of the motor to the first transmission route. A fluid coupling is disposed between the motor and the intermediate shaft. A lockup clutch is arranged parallel to the fluid coupling between the motor and the intermediate shaft.

An in-vehicle controller prohibits engagement of a lock-up clutch when a temperature of a fluid that actuates the lock-up clutch is lower than a prescribed temperature. In addition, the in-vehicle controller stops fuel injection by a fuel injection valve when fuel cut conditions including such a condition that the lock-up clutch is engaged are established. Under a situation where the temperature of the fluid is lower than the prescribed temperature, in the case where a PM accumulation amount on a filter is equal to or larger than an accumulation amount threshold, the in-vehicle controller executes speed increase processing so as to execute gear shift control of a continuously variable transmission such that a rotational speed of a turbine impeller in a torque converter is increased to be higher than that in a case where the PM accumulation amount is smaller than the accumulation amount threshold.

A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle may include: controlling, by a controller, an engine of the vehicle to be operated when an ignition key of the vehicle is in an on state; and determining, by the controller, whether the controller generates a command changing a state of a clutch based on an operation state of the vehicle. The clutch connects or disconnects a crankshaft of the engine and a crankshaft pulley including the clutch. The crankshaft pulley is connected to a generator pulley and an air conditioner compressor pulley via a belt.

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 system according to the present disclosure includes an acceleration limit module and a torque command module. The acceleration limit module is configured to determine whether an acceleration of an electric motor in a vehicle is greater than an acceleration limit having a first nonzero value and generate a first torque reduction request when the motor acceleration is greater than the acceleration limit. The torque command module is configured to determine a torque command for the electric motor based on a driver input, and decrease the torque command in response to the first torque reduction request to reduce harshness associated with engaging a one-way clutch of the vehicle. The one-way clutch couples the electric motor to a wheel of the vehicle when the one-way clutch is engaged.

Method and system for starting an internal combustion engine that rotates a drive shaft providing torque to a driving wheel via a transmission unit comprising a first clutch connecting the engine to an input shaft of a gearbox connected to a torque converter. The torque converter is connected to a second clutch connected to the driving wheel through a transmission, and the input shaft is connected to an auxiliary drive source in an offset arrangement with a predetermined torque ratio between the input shaft and the auxiliary drive source. Starting the engine comprises disengaging the first clutch, disengaging the second clutch to a predetermined torque level, accelerating the input shaft and the torque converter with the auxiliary drive source to a predetermined rotational speed, and engaging the first clutch to start the engine with the energy stored in the input shaft, the torque converter, and the auxiliary drive source.

Systems and methods for operating an engine and a torque converter are presented. In one example, slip of a torque converter is adjusted via at least partially closing or opening a torque converter clutch in response to vehicle vibration. The vehicle vibration may be based on road surface conditions and an actual total number of operating cylinders of the engine.