Systems and methods for operating an engine and a torque converter are presented. In one example, slip of a torque converter is adjusted via at least partially closing or opening a torque converter clutch in response to vehicle vibration. The vehicle vibration may be based on road surface conditions and an actual total number of operating cylinders of the engine.

A system and method that detects, using processing circuitry, a predetermined energy condition. The processing circuitry determines a geographic location of a vehicle, identifies at least one energy station as a function of a plurality of factors, determines a vehicle range based on an energy level of the vehicle and a first mode of vehicle operation, determines whether an energy saving condition is satisfied based on the vehicle range, a location of the at least one energy station, and the geographical location of the vehicle, and enters an economy mode when the energy saving condition is satisfied.

A method for estimating energy consumption of a motor vehicle during a given journey, including: a) cutting the journey into portions of journey, b) allocating a setpoint speed to each portion of journey, as a function of at least one characteristic of the portion, c) estimating, for each portion of journey, an evolution of speed of the vehicle as a function of time, the speed being estimated as a function of at least one characteristic of the portion of journey and as a function of a predetermined driving behavior associated with the setpoint speed of the portion, to establish for a whole of the journey an estimation of the evolution of the speed of the vehicle as a function of time, d) estimating the energy consumption of the vehicle during the journey, as a function of the evolution of the estimated speed.

A method of optimizing fuel economy and reduced noise and vibration levels in a vehicle includes one or more of the following steps: evaluating an engine speed and a speed of the vehicle, determining if the engine speed and the speed of the vehicle produces a noise level that causes a potential customer complaint, monitoring the noise level in the vehicle, calculating the engine operating condition that causes the noise level, determining if the noise level is above a threshold, adjusting an engine torque or a slip condition of a torque converter for optimal vehicle fuel economy if the noise level is at or below the threshold, and, if the noise level is above the threshold, adjusting the engine torque or the slip condition of the torque converter such that the noise level is at or below the threshold.

A method and apparatus for evaluating the driving of a vehicle performing a journey on a road network is disclosed. The method comprises determining a fuel usage rate and an engine speed of a vehicle, and determining when the vehicle is coasting based upon at least one of the fuel usage rate and the engine speed of the vehicle. An acceleration of the vehicle, when the vehicle is determined to be coasting, is compared with a predetermined reference acceleration, and an application of braking during the coasting is determined based on the result of the comparison. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for determining a score indicative of the relative amount of time for which the vehicle is coasting without braking during a journey.

A method manages energy of a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle includes a heat engine, one or more electric traction motors, a high-voltage traction battery, a low-voltage on-board battery for accessories of the vehicle, a current inverter to transform direct currents into alternating currents for the electric motor, and a reversible current transformer to convert high-voltage current into low-voltage current of the on-board battery and to use a stock of energy available in the low-voltage battery to not draw energy from the high-voltage battery when it has a relatively low level of charge. The method includes determining an operating point of the vehicle involving a minimum fuel consumption in the heat engine by imposing on the electric motor a torque that minimizes a criterion of total fuel consumption by the consumption of the heat engine, power consumed in the traction battery, and power consumed in the on-board battery.

Values of at least one energy utilization characteristic, which represents a first energy utilization process in a first vehicle, are determined. Furthermore, values of at least one parameter, which represents at least one boundary condition of the energy utilization in the first vehicle during the first energy utilization process, are also determined. A mathematical relationship between at least one or more values provided for the at least one energy utilization characteristic and the corresponding values of the parameters is determined and a profile record comprising a record and/or learning data is provided on the basis of at least one mathematical relationship determined. Depending on the profile record, at least one operating parameter of the drive system of the first vehicle and/or of a second vehicle is adapted in a second energy utilization process.

Systems and methods for operating a hybrid powertrain that includes an engine and a motor/generator are described. The systems and methods provide different ways to transition engine operating conditions between two low engine fuel consumption operating regions that are separated by a higher engine fuel consumption operating region. In one example, engine torque is increased at a higher rate in a fuel economy mode to increase an amount of time an engine operates in one of the two low fuel consumption operating regions.

The present invention is a method for determining an optimal speed of a first vehicle preceded by a second vehicle. Position, speed and acceleration of the second vehicle are measured in order to determine a trajectory thereof, and a dynamic model of the first vehicle is constructed. The optimal speed is then determined by minimizing the energy consumption of the vehicle by use of the dynamic model by minimization being constrained by the trajectory of the second vehicle.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.