A plurality of virtual gear positions are established by an electric continuously variable transmission, and the number of speeds of the virtual gear positions is equal to or larger than the number of speeds of mechanical gear positions of a mechanical stepwise variable transmission. One virtual gear position or two or more virtual gear positions is/are assigned to each mechanical gear position, and the mechanical gear position is shifted in the same timing as shift timing of the virtual gear position. The virtual gear positions assigned to each mechanical gear position when the mechanical gear position is upshifted are different from the virtual gear positions assigned to each mechanical gear position when the mechanical gear position is downshifted. Thus, the amount of heat generated in frictional engagement elements of the mechanical stepwise variable transmission is prevented from being increased.

A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle that uses a combination of an engine and a traveling motor as vehicle drive sources has an engine speed detector configured to detect an engine rotational speed, an EV-state determination unit configured to determine whether a mode is an EV state in which the traveling motor is mainly used as the drive source; an EV-state annunciator configured to notify a driver about the EV state, and a switching controller configured to control switching between notification and non-notification about the EV state. The switching controller is configured to bring the EV-state annunciator to a non-notification state when the EV-state determination unit determines that the mode is not the EV state and the engine rotational speed is greater than a predetermined first threshold value.

A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle that uses a combination of an engine and a traveling motor as vehicle drive sources has an engine speed detector configured to detect an engine rotational speed, an EV-state determination unit configured to determine whether a mode is an EV state in which the traveling motor is mainly used as the drive source; an EV-state annunciator configured to notify a driver about the EV state, and a switching controller configured to control switching between notification and non-notification about the EV state. The switching controller is configured to bring the EV-state annunciator to a non-notification state when the EV-state determination unit determines that the mode is not the EV state and the engine rotational speed is greater than a predetermined first threshold value.

The present invention relates to a hybrid powertrain and method of controlling same, the hybrid powertrain comprising an internal combustion engine; a gearbox with an input and an output shaft; a range gearbox connected to the output shaft; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft; a second planetary gear connected to the first planetary gear; a first electrical machine connected to the first planetary gear; a second electrical machine connected to the second planetary gear; one gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft; and one gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft, wherein the internal combustion engine is connected with the first planetary gear via the input shaft. The range gearbox comprises a third planetary gear with a third sun wheel and a third planetary wheel carrier and a fourth clutch device arranged to connect and disconnect the third sun wheel with/from the third planetary wheel carrier.

The present invention relates to a hybrid powertrain and method of controlling same, the hybrid powertrain comprising an internal combustion engine; a gearbox with an input and an output shaft; a range gearbox connected to the output shaft; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft; a second planetary gear connected to the first planetary gear; a first electrical machine connected to the first planetary gear; a second electrical machine connected to the second planetary gear; one gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft; and one gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft, wherein the internal combustion engine is connected with the first planetary gear via the input shaft. The range gearbox comprises a third planetary gear with a third sun wheel and a third planetary wheel carrier and a fourth clutch device arranged to connect and disconnect the third sun wheel with/from the third planetary wheel carrier.

A control device that includes an electronic control unit that is programmed such that, when the internal combustion engine is started by the rotary electric machine while output torque from the rotary electric machine is transferred to the wheels in a state in which rotation of the internal combustion engine has been stopped, the electronic control unit: executes second slipping control in which the second engagement device is controlled into a slipping engagement state, executes first slipping control in which the first engagement device which has been in a disengaged state is controlled into a slipping engagement state during execution of the second slipping control, and controls an engagement pressure of the first engagement device so as to lower a rotational speed of the rotary electric machine in the first slipping control.

A control device that includes an electronic control unit that is programmed such that, when the internal combustion engine is started by the rotary electric machine while output torque from the rotary electric machine is transferred to the wheels in a state in which rotation of the internal combustion engine has been stopped, the electronic control unit: executes second slipping control in which the second engagement device is controlled into a slipping engagement state, executes first slipping control in which the first engagement device which has been in a disengaged state is controlled into a slipping engagement state during execution of the second slipping control, and controls an engagement pressure of the first engagement device so as to lower a rotational speed of the rotary electric machine in the first slipping control.

Provided is a method to control a hybrid powertrain to achieve reverse drive, comprising an internal combustion engine, a gearbox with input output shafts; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft and a second planetary gear; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft and one gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft, wherein the internal combustion engine is connected with the first planetary gear via the input shaft. The method comprises: a) ensuring the moveable component parts in the first planetary gear are connected with each other and the moveable component parts in the second planetary gear are disconnected from each other; b) ensuring the gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft are connected, and the gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft are disconnected; and c) controlling the second electrical machine to achieve a negative torque in the output shaft.

Provided is a method to control a hybrid powertrain to achieve reverse drive, comprising an internal combustion engine, a gearbox with input output shafts; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft and a second planetary gear; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft and one gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft, wherein the internal combustion engine is connected with the first planetary gear via the input shaft. The method comprises: a) ensuring the moveable component parts in the first planetary gear are connected with each other and the moveable component parts in the second planetary gear are disconnected from each other; b) ensuring the gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft are connected, and the gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft are disconnected; and c) controlling the second electrical machine to achieve a negative torque in the output shaft.

A hybrid vehicle includes an electronic control unit configured to: set a target rotation speed of an engine based on a vehicle speed and a shift position; set a driving force when an upper-limit power is output to a drive shaft as an upper-limit driving force; set a target engine power such that the smaller of the upper-limit driving force and the required driving force is output to the drive shaft; and control the engine, the first motor, and the second motor such that the engine to rotate at the target rotation speed and to output the target power. At this time, the upper-limit power is set to be lower when a coolant temperature of the engine is low than when the coolant temperature is high.