A method and system of operating an internal combustion engine (ICE) of a hybrid powertrain system for powering a vehicle or stationary apparatus having a variable load demand includes arrangements and configurations of operating the ICE to charge/recharge capacitive energy storage, such as ultra-capacitors, during acceleration or high load demand on the ICE. Operation of the ICE can be transitioned from one mode of operation to another, more efficient, mode of operation during charging and high load. The present invention provides fuel efficiency/economy benefits when charging the capacitive energy storage during high load situations.

An engine is driven at an operating point with high engine efficiency to improve fuel economy. A vehicle control device according to the present invention controls a transmission ratio before increasing the engine rotation speed, and thereafter, engages the clutch.

A mild hybrid vehicle controlling method, wherein the mild hybrid vehicle has a driver assistance module for detecting peripheral vehicle information and a mild hybrid starter & generator (MSHG) may comprises comparing, by a controller, the peripheral vehicle information with a predetermined reference value and deciding whether after-treatment regeneration control is performed or not according to a result of the comparison.

A vehicle control device has an engine, automatic transmission, and torque converter disposed between the engine and the automatic transmission. The torque converter includes a lockup clutch coupling an input member to an output member of the torque converter. The control device has: a slip control portion controlling lockup clutch slip when deceleration running; and a fuel cut control portion performing an engine fuel cut when deceleration running and to terminate the fuel cut when an engine rotation speed is reduced to a predetermined rotation speed or less during the fuel cut, the fuel cut control portion being permitted to perform the fuel cut, based on lockup clutch slip pressure controlled by the slip control portion has reached a slip pressure value at which the engine rotation speed does not decrease due to a shortage of torque capacity of the lockup clutch even when the fuel cut is performed.

A shift control device for a vehicle includes: an engine; a shift mechanism disposed between the engine and driving wheels; a shift control section configured to control a transmission gear ratio of the shift mechanism; and a fuel cut control section configured to stop a fuel supply to the engine, at least when an accelerator pedal is in a release state, and when an engine speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined rotation speed, the shift control section being configured to perform a minimum rotation speed restriction control to control the transmission gear ratio of the shift mechanism so that the minimum rotation speed of the engine is equal to or greater than the predetermined rotation speed regardless of a vehicle front condition and an accelerator operation condition.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that perform automatic downhill snub braking. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electronic powertrain controller to cause a deceleration of a vehicle in response to a first request from an electronic cruise controller, the first request responsive to a change in grade of a driving surface and an electronic brake controller to apply snub braking to the vehicle in response to a second request received from the electronic cruise controller, the second request responsive to a speed of the vehicle reaching a maximum speed.

A method and apparatus for evaluating the driving of a vehicle performing a journey on a road network is disclosed. The method comprises determining a fuel usage rate and an engine speed of a vehicle, and determining when the vehicle is coasting based upon at least one of the fuel usage rate and the engine speed of the vehicle. An acceleration of the vehicle, when the vehicle is determined to be coasting, is compared with a predetermined reference acceleration, and an application of braking during the coasting is determined based on the result of the comparison. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for determining a score indicative of the relative amount of time for which the vehicle is coasting without braking during a journey.

A control command is provided to a vehicle control module that identifies one or more vehicle actions to be performed by the vehicle control module to control a position of an autonomous vehicle (AV) with respect to an external environment. Whether one or more conditions pertaining to the position of the AV with respect to the external environment are satisfied is determined. Responsive to determining that the one or more conditions pertaining to the position of the AV with respect to the external environment are satisfied, a first instruction is provide to the vehicle control module that permits the vehicle control module to deviate from the one or more vehicle actions identified in the control command and to perform an energy saving action with respect to the AV.

Introduction of a low fuel consumption technique such as downsizing turbos and idling stop decreases an intake pipe negative pressure (pump loss) of an internal combustion engine, and results in difficulty in emitting (evaporative fuel purge) a volatile fuel (volatile fuel) in a fuel tank by the negative pressure of the intake pipe of the internal combustion engine. A control device includes: a purge control unit which controls a purge valve which emits a volatile fuel of a fuel tank or a canister to an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine; and a power transmission control unit which controls a power transmission mechanism between the internal combustion engine and a drive wheel, and, in a state where the power transmission control unit disconnects a clutch, and the vehicle is coasting, the purge control unit opens the evaporative fuel valve and purges an evaporative fuel to the intake pipe.

A method and apparatus for providing an indication to a driver of a geared vehicle that the vehicle is not in an optimal gear is disclosed. The method comprises determining a current gear of the vehicle and determining a current speed of a drive unit of the vehicle. An indication is then provided to the driver of the vehicle that the vehicle is not in an optimal gear when: (i) the determined current speed of the drive unit is greater than a predetermined threshold; and (ii) the determined current gear of the vehicle is less than a maximum gear of the vehicle. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for determining a score indicative of the amount of time during a journey on a road network that a geared vehicle is driven in an optimal gear.