A drive train for a motor vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine which has a crankshaft and is designed to provide drive power for the motor vehicle. A clutch arrangement has an input member and at least one output member, the input member being connected to the crankshaft. A transmission arrangement implements a plurality of gear stages, the transmission arrangement having a transmission housing, at least one input shaft, and at least one output shaft. The output shaft is connectable to driven wheels of the motor vehicle. An electric machine is designed to provide drive power for the motor vehicle and is connected to a transmission shaft of the transmission arrangement. The transmission shaft has a shaft section which extends from the transmission housing and is connected to the electric machine via a traction drive mechanism.

A vehicle powertrain includes an IGBT, having a Kelvin emitter and a mirror current sense, configured to energize an inductance, a first switch configured to draw a current from a gate of the IGBT at a rate based on a resistance engaged by the first switch while a current of the inductance exceeds a threshold, and a second switch configured to increase the rate in response to the current being less than the threshold. In one embodiment, the current is based on a filtered voltage across a resistor connected between the mirror current sense and chassis ground while the Kelvin emitter is connected to chassis ground. In another embodiment, the current is based on a filtered voltage across a resistor connected between the mirror current sense and the Kelvin emitter.

A vehicle powertrain includes an IGBT, having a Kelvin emitter and a mirror current sense, configured to energize an inductance, a first switch configured to draw a current from a gate of the IGBT at a rate based on a resistance engaged by the first switch while a current of the inductance exceeds a threshold, and a second switch configured to increase the rate in response to the current being less than the threshold. In one embodiment, the current is based on a filtered voltage across a resistor connected between the mirror current sense and chassis ground while the Kelvin emitter is connected to chassis ground. In another embodiment, the current is based on a filtered voltage across a resistor connected between the mirror current sense and the Kelvin emitter.

A hybrid-electric vehicle includes a power system, a controller, a driver seat, a passenger seat, a back seat, and sensors. The controller is in communication with the sensors and the power system. The seats are coupled, directly or indirectly, to the power system. The sensors are configured to detect occupancy of the driver, passenger, and back seats. The controller is programmed to receive occupancy data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an operating parameter for the power system based on the occupancy status, and control the power system in accordance with the parameter.

The vehicle power supply system includes the DC/DC converter that is disposed on an electric path between the first load related to vehicle control and the battery and converts a voltage of direct current power supplied from the battery to the first load, and the detection device that detects the voltage of the battery. In a case where the engine is restarted by using the starter from the automatically stopped state of the engine, the detection device controls the DC/DC converter to start in a case where the voltage of the battery becomes equal to or less than a threshold value during a period from stoppage of the alternator to start of the starter.

The vehicle power supply system includes the DC/DC converter that is disposed on an electric path between the first load related to vehicle control and the battery and converts a voltage of direct current power supplied from the battery to the first load, and the detection device that detects the voltage of the battery. In a case where the engine is restarted by using the starter from the automatically stopped state of the engine, the detection device controls the DC/DC converter to start in a case where the voltage of the battery becomes equal to or less than a threshold value during a period from stoppage of the alternator to start of the starter.

Methods and systems are described for conserving energy used by an energy consuming device. In certain embodiments, an energy conservation system can be configured to deliver energy to the energy consuming device for a period, followed by a period where energy delivery is dampened and/or cut. By cycling the delivery of energy in this fashion, the energy conservation can achieve a pulsed efficiency.

Methods and systems are described for conserving energy used by an energy consuming device. In certain embodiments, an energy conservation system can be configured to deliver energy to the energy consuming device for a period, followed by a period where energy delivery is dampened and/or cut. By cycling the delivery of energy in this fashion, the energy conservation can achieve a pulsed efficiency.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles where a multiport power-packet-switching converter provides fully bidirectional power transfer among any of an engine motor, a drive motor, a vehicle battery and/or supercapacitor, and a connection to grid.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles where a multiport power-packet-switching converter provides fully bidirectional power transfer among any of an engine motor, a drive motor, a vehicle battery and/or supercapacitor, and a connection to grid.