A traction control method and a traction control apparatus for a vehicle are provided. The traction control method includes: estimating driving torque for each wheel and a difference between left and right wheel rotation speeds; determining a situation, in which the difference between the left and right wheel rotation speeds exceeds a first set value, to be a split wheel spin situation; estimating a maximum coefficient of friction between a spinning wheel and a road surface in the split wheel spin situation and estimating a maximum driving torque, at which the road surface is acceptable, by the maximum coefficient of friction; and obtaining a difference between driving torque of the spinning wheel and the maximum driving torque to calculate a road surface limitation excess driving torque and determining entry into traction control when the road surface limitation excess driving torque exceeds a second set value.

A hybrid all-wheel-drive vehicle includes an engine, first and second motor generators, a first clutch between the second motor generator and a front wheel, a second clutch between the second motor generator and a rear wheel, and a control unit that controls, based on a vehicle traveling state, the engine, the motor generators, and the clutches. The first motor generator is coupled to the engine and the front wheel in a manner capable of transmitting torque. During regeneration, the control unit engages the first clutch and disengages the second clutch. When the all-wheel-drive vehicle shifts from motor traveling to hybrid traveling, the control unit restarts the engine by operating the first motor generator and regulates engagement forces of the clutches and output torque of the second motor generator to compensate driving torque of the front wheel by the second motor generator while maintaining driving torque of the rear wheel.

A hybrid all-wheel-drive vehicle includes an engine, first and second motor generators, a first clutch between the second motor generator and a front wheel, a second clutch between the second motor generator and a rear wheel, and a control unit that controls, based on a vehicle traveling state, the engine, the motor generators, and the clutches. The first motor generator is coupled to the engine and the front wheel in a manner capable of transmitting torque. During regeneration, the control unit engages the first clutch and disengages the second clutch. When the all-wheel-drive vehicle shifts from motor traveling to hybrid traveling, the control unit restarts the engine by operating the first motor generator and regulates engagement forces of the clutches and output torque of the second motor generator to compensate driving torque of the front wheel by the second motor generator while maintaining driving torque of the rear wheel.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle control system comprising a speed control system, the speed control system being configured automatically to attempt to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value by causing a first vehicle speed value determined according to a first predetermined method to become or be maintained substantially equal to the predetermined target speed value at least in part by causing application of positive drive torque to one or more wheels by means of a powertrain, wherein the speed control system is configured to impose a constraint on the amount of driving torque that may be demanded of the powertrain in dependence on the target speed value and a second vehicle speed value determined according to a second predetermined method, said a second predetermined method being based on the mean speed of the driven wheels of the vehicle.

A method for distributing electrical power to electric motors in an electric powertrain, in which the electric motors are electrically connected to a shared power supply, includes receiving input signals via a supervisory controller. The input signals include a total torque request of the electric powertrain and electrical limits of the power supply. The method includes determining an open-loop torque command for each respective motor in response to the input signals. In response to the total torque request and the power supply limits, the controller also determines maximum and minimum power limits of motor, with the maximum and minimum power limits including a calibrated power reserve for executing a predetermined torque operation. The method includes transmitting the open-loop torque command and the power limits to a respective motor control processor of each motor to thereby control the torque operation.

A method for distributing electrical power to electric motors in an electric powertrain, in which the electric motors are electrically connected to a shared power supply, includes receiving input signals via a supervisory controller. The input signals include a total torque request of the electric powertrain and electrical limits of the power supply. The method includes determining an open-loop torque command for each respective motor in response to the input signals. In response to the total torque request and the power supply limits, the controller also determines maximum and minimum power limits of motor, with the maximum and minimum power limits including a calibrated power reserve for executing a predetermined torque operation. The method includes transmitting the open-loop torque command and the power limits to a respective motor control processor of each motor to thereby control the torque operation.

A control method controls an electric four-wheel-drive vehicle to switch a drive torque distribution between a first distribution prioritizing energy efficiency and a second distribution prioritizing driving performance. The distribution is set to the second distribution where wheel slip is detected during a trip, and returned to the first distribution once the vehicle has stopped. When wheel slip is detected at least during acceleration, the distribution is switched from the first distribution to the second distribution. When wheel slip is detected during deceleration, a slip experience flag is set. The slip experience flag is maintained at least until starting off in a subsequent trip. Where the slip experience flag has been set, the distribution is maintained as the second distribution when the vehicle has stopped, and where the slip experience flag has not been set, the distribution is returned to the first distribution upon the vehicle being stopped.

A control method controls an electric four-wheel-drive vehicle to switch a drive torque distribution between a first distribution prioritizing energy efficiency and a second distribution prioritizing driving performance. The distribution is set to the second distribution where wheel slip is detected during a trip, and returned to the first distribution once the vehicle has stopped. When wheel slip is detected at least during acceleration, the distribution is switched from the first distribution to the second distribution. When wheel slip is detected during deceleration, a slip experience flag is set. The slip experience flag is maintained at least until starting off in a subsequent trip. Where the slip experience flag has been set, the distribution is maintained as the second distribution when the vehicle has stopped, and where the slip experience flag has not been set, the distribution is returned to the first distribution upon the vehicle being stopped.

A vehicle control apparatus includes a planetary gear mechanism, first and second wheels, an engine, a motor generator, a wheel drive clutch, and a control system. The planetary gear mechanism includes first, second, and third rotation elements. The first wheel is coupled to the first rotation element via a first path. The second wheel is coupled to the second rotation element via a second path. The engine is coupled to the third rotation element via a third path. The motor generator is provided on the first path. The wheel drive clutch is provided on the first path and between the motor generator and the first wheel. The control system controls the motor generator and the wheel drive clutch. The control system executes a motor stop mode in which the wheel drive clutch is brought into a released state and the motor generator is brought into a rotation stop state.

A vehicle control apparatus includes a planetary gear mechanism, first and second wheels, an engine, a motor generator, a wheel drive clutch, and a control system. The planetary gear mechanism includes first, second, and third rotation elements. The first wheel is coupled to the first rotation element via a first path. The second wheel is coupled to the second rotation element via a second path. The engine is coupled to the third rotation element via a third path. The motor generator is provided on the first path. The wheel drive clutch is provided on the first path and between the motor generator and the first wheel. The control system controls the motor generator and the wheel drive clutch. The control system executes a motor stop mode in which the wheel drive clutch is brought into a released state and the motor generator is brought into a rotation stop state.