A vehicle includes a controller configured to switch between a constant speed traveling mode in which a vehicle speed is held constant and an inertial traveling mode in which a prime mover is stopped or in an idling state, and a clutch apparatus configured to connect and disconnect power transmission between the prime mover and an output target, and the controller controls the clutch apparatus and decreases a clutch capacity so as to transit to the inertial traveling mode when detected that the vehicle is traveling on a downhill road during the constant speed traveling mode, and the controller controls the clutch apparatus and increases the clutch capacity so as to transit to the constant speed traveling mode when detected that the vehicle traveling on the downhill road has terminated.

Disclosed is a method of controlling regenerative braking of a hybrid vehicle, and a device thereof. The method includes: controlling, by a controller, a hybrid vehicle to start a braking operation in response to a brake pedal operation signal; and after the braking operation of the hybrid vehicle is started, controlling, by the controller, a second motor that is connected to an input shaft of a transmission of the hybrid vehicle to perform regenerative braking.

A regenerative torque control unit is configured to reduce a regenerative torque and increase a rising gradient of the regenerative torque at a start of regeneration when a road surface friction coefficient acquired by a road surface friction coefficient acquisition unit is low as compared to when the road surface friction coefficient is high. Thus, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a slip on a low μ road, and it is less likely to provide a feeling of strangeness from a change between a low μ road and a high μ road.

A braking and driving force control device includes a target braking and driving force calculation unit, and a braking and driving force distribution unit. The braking and driving force distribution unit causes a driving device to generate a target braking and driving force in a case where the target braking and driving force is within the availability, and in a case where the target braking and driving force is less than a lower limit value of the availability, causes the driving device to generate a braking and driving force corresponding to the lower limit value of the availability, performs arithmetic processing of suppressing time variation on the lower limit value of the availability, and causes a braking device to generate a braking force corresponding to a difference between the lower limit value of the availability after the arithmetic processing and the target braking and driving force.

Systems and methods for operating a hybrid powertrain that includes an engine and a motor/generator are described. The systems and methods adjust torque converter clutch opening responsive to whether or not a motor/generator is available to provide a negative torque to a driveline. Further, the motor/generator and the vehicle's engine are operated to provide a desired amount of driveline braking.

The control device for a hybrid vehicle includes: a mechanical power source; an electric motor to be used when the mechanical power source is started; a first clutch arranged between the mechanical power source and a first transmission mechanism including a plurality of gear shift stages; a second clutch arranged between the mechanical power source and a second transmission mechanism including a plurality of gear shift stages; an electrical power source coupled to an input shaft of the first transmission mechanism; and a control unit for controlling a torque of at least one of the second clutch or the electric motor so as to compensate a braking force decreased upon a gear shift in the electrical power source when a gear shift request for shifting the gear shift stage of the first transmission mechanism is made during a regeneration travel of the electrical power source.

Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves are presented. In one example, an actual total number of deactivated cylinders may be adjusted to control driveline braking. The driveline braking may be controlled in a towing mode, a hill descent mode, and during normal driving conditions.

A utility vehicle with regenerative braking is disclosed. The utility vehicle includes a power bus, a battery coupled to the system power bus, and at least one electric drive motor to generate power through regenerative braking and supply the generated power onto the power bus. The utility vehicle includes a power regulation controller configured to direct the generated power to the battery to recharge the battery when the battery is not fully charged, direct the generated power to at least one power sink to consume the generated power when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is less than or equal to a power consumption limit, and reduce a maximum travel speed to reduce an amount of power generated by the at least one electric drive motor through regenerative braking when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is greater than the power consumption limit.

A method of substantially preventing road speed excursions while traversing a road grade includes: determining, by a controller, a predicted over speed for a vehicle during an upcoming downhill grade based on a difference between a predicted engine braking power of the vehicle and an amount of braking power that substantially prevents a speed of the vehicle from exceeding a speed threshold; and responsive to the determination, controlling, by the controller, one or more components of the vehicle to substantially prevent the vehicle from exceeding the speed threshold.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a method and to a control system for a vehicle, the method comprising: determining that a trigger condition is satisfied, wherein satisfaction of the trigger condition is dependent on a vehicle speed of the vehicle relative to at least one threshold speed, the at least one threshold speed having a value corresponding to is vehicle speed no greater than four metres per second; and based at least on the determination, controlling when a mode change between a first operating mode and a second operating mode is performed, wherein in the first operating mode the internal combustion engine is in a disconnected state not configured to provide tractive torque, and an electric machine is configured to provide tractive torque, and wherein in the second operating mode at least the internal combustion engine is in a connected state configured to provide tractive torque.