A vehicle includes actuator systems that are able to cause motion of the vehicle, a thermal management system that controls temperatures for the actuator systems, and a vehicle control module that is operable to determine a control strategy to achieve a desired vehicle motion, output commands to the actuator systems to achieve the desired vehicle motion, determine thermal regulation requirements for the control strategy, and control operation of the thermal management system according to the thermal regulation requirements.

A vehicle includes actuator systems that are able to cause motion of the vehicle, a thermal management system that controls temperatures for the actuator systems, and a vehicle control module that is operable to determine a control strategy to achieve a desired vehicle motion, output commands to the actuator systems to achieve the desired vehicle motion, determine thermal regulation requirements for the control strategy, and control operation of the thermal management system according to the thermal regulation requirements.

A vehicle that utilizes a counter-rotating electric motor to generate at least a portion of its propulsive force that includes the vehicle with front and rear wheels, the counter-rotating motor with two oppositely rotating components linked to two drive shafts that are coupled to the wheels in a common rotational direction, a component for reversible stopping the rotation of at least one rotating component while permitting the drive shafts to rotate, a power source linked to the motor, and a controller that controls both the speed of the vehicle and the reversible stopping component to switch between a first operational mode for slower vehicle speeds and a second operational mode for higher vehicle speeds, thereby increasing the overall electrical efficiency for operating the vehicle.

A vehicle that utilizes a counter-rotating electric motor to generate at least a portion of its propulsive force that includes the vehicle with front and rear wheels, the counter-rotating motor with two oppositely rotating components linked to two drive shafts that are coupled to the wheels in a common rotational direction, a component for reversible stopping the rotation of at least one rotating component while permitting the drive shafts to rotate, a power source linked to the motor, and a controller that controls both the speed of the vehicle and the reversible stopping component to switch between a first operational mode for slower vehicle speeds and a second operational mode for higher vehicle speeds, thereby increasing the overall electrical efficiency for operating the vehicle.

It is determined whether fuel efficiency of a vehicle is improved by operating a first rotating machine to generate electricity to such an extent that an electrical path amount becomes a desired electrical path amount for controlling an operating point of an engine to a desired operating point and driving and operating a second rotating machine as a second power source, the electrical path amount being a magnitude of electric power in an electrical path through which the electric power is transferred between the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine. When the electronic control device determines that the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is improved, the first rotating machine is operated to generate electricity to such an extent that the electrical path amount becomes the desired electrical path amount and the second rotating machine is driven and operated as the second power source.

A vehicle driving apparatus includes: an engine; a first rotary electric machine; first and second output shafts; a power distribution device for distributing a power between the first and second output shafts; and a control device for controlling an electric-power generation torque of a second rotary electric machine such that a power distribution ratio between the first and second output shafts becomes a target distribution ratio, and controlling a total torque of the engine and the first rotary electric machine such that a requested drive torque is obtained. The control device executes an electric-power consuming control to supply at least a part of a generated electric power generated by the second rotary electric machine, to the first rotary electric machine without via a power storage device, and to drive the first rotary electric machine, such that an operation state of the engine is brought close to a fuel-economy optimum state.

A method actuates a vehicle drivetrain of a vehicle having a drive unit, in particular an electric motor, wherein the drivetrain has at least one first partial drivetrain which is assigned to a first output unit which transmits a torque between the drive unit and the first output unit, and has at least one second partial drive train which is assigned to a second output unit which transmits a torque between the drive unit and the second output unit. When a positive torque is transmitted, a load is applied to the drivetrain in a first direction, and when a negative torque is transmitted, a load is applied to the drivetrain in a second direction opposed to the first direction. At least one pre-load device is provided which, when a predetermined positive torque limiting value is reached or when a predetermined negative torque limiting value is reached, pre-loads the first partial drivetrain in the first direction of the positive torque and pre-loads the second partial drivetrain in the second direction of the negative torque.

A method of controlling stability of a vehicle and a stability control system for the vehicle. A driver command is determined based on driver input data. At least one output command is sent to one or more vehicle systems to control stability of the vehicle based on the driver command. A controller sends the output command based on a control hierarchy that provides an order in which the controller controls body motion of the vehicle, wheel slip of the vehicle, and standard stability of the vehicle to control stability of the vehicle. The order dictates that the controller controls the body motion of the vehicle and the wheel slip of the vehicle before the controller controls the standard stability of the vehicle. A state of one or more of the vehicle systems is controlled based on the sent output command as dictated via the control hierarchy.

A vehicle control system to be mounted in a hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a center differential that includes a front-wheel-side output portion and a rear-wheel-side output portion and distributes torque outputted from the engine to a front wheel and a rear wheel, a limited slip differential mechanism that limits a differential between the front-wheel-side output portion and the rear-wheel-side output portion, and a motor disposed in a drive-power transferring system that transfers drive power from the rear-wheel-side output portion to the rear wheel. The vehicle control system includes a processor. When the hybrid electric vehicle is switched from a first traveling mode to a second traveling mode, the processor stops the engine while causing the limited slip differential mechanism to limit the differential between the front-wheel-side output portion and the rear-wheel-side output portion.

A vehicle control system to be mounted in a hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a center differential that includes a front-wheel-side output portion and a rear-wheel-side output portion and distributes torque outputted from the engine to a front wheel and a rear wheel, a limited slip differential mechanism that limits a differential between the front-wheel-side output portion and the rear-wheel-side output portion, and a motor disposed in a drive-power transferring system that transfers drive power from the rear-wheel-side output portion to the rear wheel. The vehicle control system includes a processor. When the hybrid electric vehicle is switched from a first traveling mode to a second traveling mode, the processor stops the engine while causing the limited slip differential mechanism to limit the differential between the front-wheel-side output portion and the rear-wheel-side output portion.