An ECU is configured to control an SOC control center of a battery and perform an engine torque suppression control. The engine torque suppression control is a control that suppresses output of an engine during a predetermined period of time after starting a system, and causes motor generators to output torque supplementing the suppressed output of the engine. When a deposition amount of PM on a filter exceeds a first specified amount, the ECU raises the SOC control center by controlling the motor generators before stopping the system as compared to when the deposition amount of PM is lower than a specified amount, and performs the engine torque suppression control at a next start after stopping the system.

Methods and systems for improving fuel economy and reducing emissions of a vehicle with an electric motor, an engine and an energy storage device are disclosed. The methods and systems involve obtaining lookahead information and current state information, wherein the lookahead information includes a predicted vehicle speed, and the current state information includes a current state of charge (SOC) for the energy storage device coupled to the electric motor; and determining, based on the lookahead information and the current state information, a target power split between the energy storage device and the engine.

A system for discharging or charging a capacitor of a hybrid vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a target state of charge (SOC) module and a capacitor charge/discharge module. The target SOC module determines a target state of charge of the capacitor based on a speed of the vehicle. The capacitor charge/discharge module determines whether a state of charge of a capacitor is greater than a target state of charge. The capacitor charge/discharge module dissipates power from the capacitor to at least one of a battery of the vehicle and an electrical load of the vehicle when the state of charge of the capacitor is greater than the target state of charge.

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.

The disclosure is directed at an apparatus for an active converter dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a system to connect a first trailer towed behind a towing vehicle to a second trailer. The apparatus further includes a kinetic energy recovery device for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer. The active dolly is operable in a number of modes to increase vehicle performance and efficiency.

A vehicle provided with a generator generating electric power by using motive power outputted from an internal combustion engine includes an electric power storage device, an electric motor driving a vehicle, a controller executing charging control of the electric power storage device, and a weight estimator estimating a vehicle weight while the vehicle is moving. While the vehicle is driven by the electric motor, the controller starts operation of the internal combustion engine to start charging the electric power storage device when a SOC of the electric power storage device is reduced to a charging start SOC or less, and to stop the operation of the internal combustion engine to stop charging the electric power when the SOC of the electric power storage device is at or greater than a charging stop SOC. The charging stop SOC is set based on the vehicle weight estimated by the weight estimator.

An example system includes a vehicle having a prime mover motively coupled to a drive line; a motor/generator selectively coupled to the drive line, and configured to selectively modulate power transfer between an electrical load and the drive line; a battery pack; a DC/DC converter electrically interposed between the motor/generator and the electrical load, and between the battery pack and the electrical load, the DC/DC converter comprising a DC/DC converter housing; and a covering tray positioned over a plurality of batteries of the battery pack, the covering tray comprising a connectivity layer configured to provide electrical connectivity to terminals of the plurality of batteries.

A vehicle and a method of calculating a load therefor for calculating a driving load based on a weather condition are provided. The method includes acquiring weather information regarding rain or snow and calculating a first driving load applied to an upper surface portion of the vehicle based on the weather information. A second driving load applied to a front surface portion of the vehicle is calculated based on the weather information and a third driving load that is a driving load due to weather is calculated by summing the first driving load and the second driving load.

An apparatus for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes an engine; a drive motor; a battery; an electric supercharger configured to be installed in an intake line in which an intake air supplied to a combustion chamber of the engine flows; a navigation device configure to calculate a driving path from a starting point to a destination point and driving information; a controller configure to calculate a driving load from the driving path and the driving information calculated by the navigation device, determine an optimal SOC (state of charge) for each section from the starting point to destination point based on the driving load, determine a driving mode of the vehicle based on a required torque of driver and a driving mode of the battery to follow the optimal SOC for each section, and adjust an operating point of the engine.

The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for an active convertor dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a system to connect a tractor to a trailer. The apparatus further includes a charge generating system for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer.