A device for controlling an electronic four-wheel drive (E-4WD) of a vehicle includes: a first powertrain for a front wheel, where the first powertrain includes an engine, and a front wheel motor; and a second powertrain for a rear wheel, where the second powertrain includes a rear wheel motor. The device provides a rear wheel motor driving mode, a front wheel motor driving mode, a combined driving mode in which the front wheel motor and the rear wheel motor are both driven, and an engine-on mode according to driver power demand for the vehicle, such that fuel efficiency of the vehicle is improved.

A cooperative control method and apparatus for maintaining driving in response to engine clutch failure are provided. The cooperative control method includes monitoring refill temperature conditions of operating oil of an engine clutch and performing cooperative control between a radiator and an engine cooling water circulation pump based on change in temperature of the operating oil of the engine clutch. Additionally, the method includes determining whether the engine clutch is in a refill dangerous stage and turning off an engine to be turned off when the engine clutch is in the refill dangerous stage. Whether the temperature of the operating oil is mitigated is determined based on the refill temperature conditions, when the engine is turned off and oil refilling is performed when the temperature of the operating oil is not mitigated.

A vehicle drive system uses an in-wheel motor and has: a vehicle speed sensor; an in-wheel motor that is provided to a wheel of the vehicle and drives the wheel; an internal combustion engine that is provided in a vehicle body of the vehicle and drives the wheel; and control equipment that controls the in-wheel motor and the internal combustion engine. The control equipment causes the internal combustion engine to generate drive power and causes the in-wheel motor not to generate the drive power when the travel speed of the vehicle detected by the vehicle speed sensor is lower than a specified vehicle speed that is higher than zero. The internal combustion engine and the in-wheel motor generate the drive power in the case where the travel speed of the vehicle detected by the vehicle speed sensor is equal to or higher than the specified vehicle speed.

A vehicle drive system uses the in-wheel motor for driving the vehicle and has: an in-wheel motor that is provided in a wheel of a vehicle and drives the wheel; an internal combustion engine that is provided in a vehicle body of the vehicle and drives the wheel; and control equipment that controls the in-wheel motor and the internal combustion engine on the basis of requested output by a driver. The control equipment is configured to cause the internal combustion engine to generate drive power and cause the in-wheel motor not to generate the drive power when the requested output by the driver is lower than specified output. The control equipment is further configured to cause the internal combustion engine and the in-wheel motor to generate the drive power when the requested output by the driver is equal to or higher than the specified output.

A drive force control system for a vehicle configured to allow a driver to find out a steering angle at which a wheel grips a road surface. In the vehicle, a torque distribution ratio to a pair of wheels turned by a steering wheel and another pair of wheels is changeable. A controller restricts a control to change the torque distribution ratio in the event of a slip of the pair of wheels, if a steering angle of the pair of wheels is changed to allow the pair of wheels to grip a road surface.

A hybrid system for a vehicle that can capture, convert, and store the kinetic energy of the vehicle slowing down the vehicle. The hybrid system includes an electric machine that can be switched between a motor mode and a generator mode, in the motor mode the electric machine can drive the vehicle using energy stored in a battery and in the generator mode the electric machine is driven by the kinetic energy of the vehicle. An air compressor is operably coupled with the electric machine, such as the electric machine drives the air compressor in the generator mode but not in the motor mode. Air compressed by the air compressor can be stored in a tank and the compressed air can be later converted to electrical energy by an air motor for charging the battery.

A hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine, at least two electric motors, at least four wheels, a first axle and at least a second axle. Two of the wheels are associated with each axle. The internal combustion engine is provided for driving the wheels of the first axle, and the two electric motors are provided for driving respective wheels of the second axle.

A hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine, at least two electric motors, at least four wheels, a first axle and at least a second axle. Two of the wheels are associated with each axle. The internal combustion engine is provided for driving the wheels of the first axle, and the two electric motors are provided for driving respective wheels of the second axle.

A drive apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes: (a) a hybrid drive unit having (a-1) an automatic transmission, (a-2) a first rotating machine and (a-3) an engine connected to the first rotating machine through a hydraulically-operated connecting/disconnecting device; (b) an electric drive unit including a second rotating machine; and (c) a hybrid control device configured, in event of an anomaly that disables a shift control of the automatic transmission, to generate an electric power by causing the first rotating machine to be rotated by the engine and drive the hybrid vehicle to run by causing the second rotating machine of the electric drive unit to be operated with use of the generated electric power, in a state in which a power transmission through the automatic transmission is cut off and the connecting/disconnecting device is engaged.

A vehicle includes a main drive unit, a sub drive unit, and a control unit. The main drive unit includes a main drive rotary electric machine. The sub drive unit includes a sub drive rotary electric machine. The control unit includes a driving force distribution ratio setting unit configured to set a driving force distribution ratio between the main driving force and the sub driving force and is configured to control the outputs of the main drive unit and the sub drive unit so that the main driving force and the sub driving force have the driving force distribution ratio set by the driving force distribution ratio setting unit. The driving force distribution ratio setting unit is configured to set the driving force distribution ratio to minimize electric power loss of the vehicle based on a vehicle speed of the vehicle and a required driving force of the vehicle.