A vehicle control method for controlling a vehicle in which a sailing control for traveling under inertia is executed when a vehicle is traveling. Each time the sailing control is executed, a history of sailing control is stored as history information classified according to situations in which sailing control was canceled. Also, a current travel situation is specified, history information corresponding to a current travel situation is specified from the stored history information, and whether to allow or disallow sailing control is determined based on the specified history information.

A stop-start system and method for a motor vehicle include a controller configured to shut down an engine of the motor vehicle automatically when the motor vehicle is moving and a predetermined engine shut down condition is achieved, to perform a rolling stop-start operation; and a mechanically driven auxiliary vacuum pump coupled to a transmission gear or output shaft and configured to provide vacuum pressure to a brake booster of the motor vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to operate the auxiliary vacuum pump during the rolling stop-start operation.

A method for steering a machine while commanded to be in neutral, including: sensing that a transmission is in a neutral setting; applying one or more service brakes into a braking mode; ramping off a steering pump on a hydraulic steering system; sensing a steering command; releasing the one or more service brakes from the braking mode in response to sensing the steering command; and ramping on the steering pump on the hydraulic steering system.

A vehicle control apparatus includes an engine, a refrigerant compressor, a lock up clutch, a throttle valve, and first, second, and third deceleration controllers. The second deceleration controller controls the lock up clutch to a slip state and controls the throttle valve openwise on the condition that the refrigerant compressor is in the stopped state on decelerated travel of a vehicle in a second speed region in which a vehicle speed is lower than a first vehicle speed and higher than a second vehicle speed lower than the first vehicle speed. The second deceleration controller controls the lock up clutch to a disengaged state and controls the throttle valve closewise on the condition that the refrigerant compressor is in the operative state on the decelerated travel of the vehicle in the second speed region.

A vehicle control method for executing a sailing stop control when a drive source stop condition is established while a vehicle is traveling. The sailing stop control stops a drive source of the vehicle and releases an engaging element provided between the drive source and a drive wheel such that the vehicle travels under inertia. The vehicle control method acquires information on a road on which the vehicle will travel, and then determines whether there is a section on a route where the sailing stop control can be executed based on the information. Upon determining a section exist capable of the sailing stop control, the vehicle control method estimates a power shortage amount, which is a shortage amount of power during sailing stop control, based on the information, and charges a battery with power required to cover the power shortage amount prior to starting the sailing stop control.

A system, method, and apparatus include a controller structured to predict a change in speed of a vehicle in advance of upcoming terrain and inhibit a coasting event if the speed exceeds a limit. In one form a velocity of the vehicle is predicted using a physics based model of the vehicle within a look ahead window in front of a vehicle. Such a look ahead window can be distance or time based. In another, speed of a vehicle is monitored during a coasting event and is compared against a threshold to determine whether to remain coasting or re-engage an engine to a driveline. The threshold is a function of road grade, and permits a larger deviation from set speed at low grade than at high grade. The function can be based on road grade and vehicle weight.

An object of the present invention is to reduce discomfort of a driver, by appropriately controlling a vehicle, when driving a vehicle capable of changing a plurality of different traveling states of a power transmission state and a traveling state of an engine during traveling. The present invention is a vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle having a power transmission mechanism which controls a power transmission state between an engine and an axle, and braking means. The vehicle control device includes, as vehicle traveling states, a power transmission engine stop traveling state in which power is transmitted by the power transmission mechanism and fuel supply to the engine is stopped to cause the vehicle to travel, and a power shutoff brake traveling state in which power from the power transmission mechanism is shut off, the fuel supply to the engine is stopped, the braking means is controlled so that the braking force is smaller than the power transmission engine stop traveling state, and the vehicle is caused to travel.

A system, method, and apparatus includes management of coasting during operation of a vehicle. Speed of a vehicle is monitored during a coasting event and is compared against a threshold to determine whether to remain coasting or re-engage an engine to a driveline. If instantaneous speed exceeds the threshold, predicted speed can be used to determine whether to permit short duration excursions, or to re-engage the engine to the driveline. These techniques can be used whether the vehicle is slowing down below a threshold or speeding up above a threshold.

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 transmission system selectively coupled to an engine crankshaft of an internal combustion engine arranged on a vehicle includes a transmission, a motor generator, a master clutch and a controller. The transmission includes an input shaft, a mainshaft, an output shaft and a countershaft offset from the input shaft. The countershaft is drivably connected to the first input shaft and the mainshaft. The motor generator is selectively coupled to the countershaft. The master clutch includes a driving portion connected to the engine crankshaft and a driven portion coupled to the transmission input shaft and adapted to frictionally engage the driving portion between open and closed positions. The controller selectively operates the transmission system in a first operating mode that includes defueling the engine while the vehicle is moving based on vehicle operating conditions and routes rotational energy from the output shaft, through the countershaft and into the motor generator.