A control apparatus for a vehicle driving apparatus includes: a first-operating-state determining portion configured to determine whether the driving apparatus is in a first operating state, by determining (i) whether a first drive-force transmitting path is established to cause a drive force to be transmitted through a gear mechanism and (ii) whether there is a probability of generation of noises between an input shaft and an continuously-variable transmission; and a belt-clamping-force controlling portion configured to control a belt clamping force of the continuously-variable transmission, when it is determined that the driving apparatus is in the first operating state, to start execution of a belt-clamping-force increasing control for increasing the belt clamping force such that the belt clamping force is made larger when the driving apparatus is in the first operating state than when the driving apparatus is in an operating state that is different from the first operating state.

A method of controlling a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle including an electric propulsion system, an engine, and a catalytic converter associated with the engine, the method comprising: monitoring a state of charge of a battery of the vehicle when in a charge depletion mode; determining a rate of depletion of the state of charge; estimating from the rate of depletion a duration of a depletion period representing the time remaining until a minimum state of charge of the battery will be reached; determining a duration of a warming period of the catalytic converter; comparing the duration of the depletion period and the duration of the warming period; and activating the engine if the duration of the depletion period is less than or equal to the duration of the warming period.

A pre-stoppage ignition control unit defines, as a stoppage transition air amount, an intake air amount of the engine with which the engine torque becomes the stoppage transition torque in a state in which an ignition timing of the engine is set to a predetermined self-sustaining operation ignition timing, defines, as an intermediate timing, a predetermined timing earlier than timing at which the intake air amount converges to the stoppage transition air amount during an execution period of the pre-stoppage self-sustaining operation control, sets the ignition timing of the engine in a period from the start of the pre-stoppage self-sustaining operation control to the intermediate timing to timing earlier than the self-sustaining operation ignition timing, and sets the ignition timing of the engine in the period after the intermediate timing to the self-sustaining operation ignition timing.

In a steer by wire and idle stop vehicle, idle stop conditions for invoking an idle stop operation include that the traveling speed of the vehicle has fallen below a first value (10 km/h). When the vehicle speed is lower than the first value but higher than a second value (5 km/h), a steering actuator control unit 44 executes a position keep control whereby a steering motor 29 is electrically braked, and a reaction force actuator control unit 43 operates a reaction force motor 26 as a dynamic brake. When the vehicle speed has fallen below the second value in the idle stop operation, the steering motor control unit terminates the position keep control.

Disclosed is a method for managing the starting of a combustion engine of a hybrid drive system including a combustion engine and an electric machine, as well as a drive shaft, the electric machine producing torque to start the combustion engine and drive the drive shaft at least during an initial phase of the start. In a transient starting phase, the combustion engine drives the drive shaft and the electric machine is stopped. The electric machine is regulated, during the initial phase and transient phases, with a first engine speed setpoint. The transient phase begins when the drive shaft reaches the first engine speed setpoint and remains steady. Torque control produced by the electric machine during the transient starting phase being configured so that the electric machine is stopped as soon as the control determines that the torque produced by the electric machine is tending toward zero torque.

Systems and methods for reducing perception of transitions from shifting a transmission from neutral to drive are described. In one example, the transmission is shifted from neutral to drive in response to brake pedal motion before the brake pedal is fully released so that timing of pressurizing clutches and engaging a forward gear is advanced to occur while the brake pedal is still applied.

In a drive control device, a controller automatically stops an engine if an execution condition of an idling stop is satisfied, and an electric oil pump is driven during an automatic stop of the engine. A first friction engaging element establishes a starting gear position and a second friction engaging element is released when a vehicle starts. A second solenoid drains oil to be supplied to the second friction engaging element according to an indicator current. A drain degree becomes smaller by reducing the indicator current. The controller reduces the indicator current below a minimum value during the automatic stop of the engine.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, activating an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system and operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while the UVGI system may supplement the heat sanitizing.

A fail-safe control method for a hybrid electric vehicle is carried out based on a power transmission system of an engine, which is used to control the speed of the engine. When one of a plurality of motor-generators of the power transmission system malfunctions, the vehicle is controlled to be driven in a limp-home mode, thereby ensuring vehicle driving reliability and preventing the vehicle from becoming inoperable.