When a vehicle is in a traveling state having a low necessity to quickly increase required traveling torque, high-rotational-speed engine starting unit that reduces an emission amount of particulate matter emitted during engine starting starts the engine. Since quick torque response is not required when the vehicle is in the traveling state having the low necessity to quickly increase the required traveling torque, the high-rotational-speed engine starting unit starts the engine, so that increase of the emission amount of particulate matter emitted during engine starting can be curbed.

A device and method automatically switches off and starts a drive machine in a motor vehicle. The device includes a sensor unit for sensing a noise level and/or a vibration level of the environment of the motor vehicle and an electronic control unit for controlling an engine start-stop automatic system. The signals of the sensor unit are captured and are compared with at least one defined threshold value. The drive machine is automatically switched off when a predefined condition exists. The drive machine, having been automatically switched off, is automatically started again at the latest when the signals of the sensor unit exceed the at least one defined threshold value.

A stop-start control system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at the vehicle and having a field of view exterior and forward of the vehicle. A control includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive to image processing of captured image data, the control determines the presence of a stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle. Responsive to determination of the presence of the stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, and responsive to determination that the driver of the vehicle releases the accelerator pedal of the vehicle so the vehicle is coasting toward the determined stopping area, the control causes the engine to at least partially shut off.

There is a need to predict a driving environment with high responsiveness by a simple configuration. There is provided a driving environment prediction device that predicts a driving environment of a vehicle that causes a vehicle stop. The driving environment prediction device comprises: a first vehicle stop time rate calculator which is configured to calculate a rate of vehicle stop time in a first period, as a first vehicle stop time rate (shorter-period vehicle stop time rate); a second vehicle stop time rate calculator which is configured to calculate a rate of vehicle stop time in a second period which is longer than the first period, as a second vehicle stop time rate (longer-period vehicle stop time rate); and a driving environment predictor which is configured to predict the driving environment, based on the shorter-period vehicle stop time rate and the longer-period vehicle stop time rate.

The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method for providing enhanced operator-controlled fuel saving modes for a vehicle to optimize fuel economy of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the fuel saving optimization system and method enables the operator to create fuel saving configurations which include operator input as to how to operate one or more devices while the vehicle is within a specific locale and under a specific conditions or in response to specific event occurring. The fuel saving optimization system stores each created fuel saving configuration for a future use, and executes each fuel saving configuration when the vehicle is under the specified conditions. In certain embodiments, the input is provided by the operator in real time or can be retrieved via past travel history data on a particular route which is stored in a database.

Disclosed are a vehicle and an engine control method for more conveniently restarting an engine in the state in which a function of automatically turning off the engine is activated during braking for improving fuel efficiency. The engine control method includes turning off an engine through an idle stop and go (ISG) system during braking due to manipulation of a brake pedal, determining whether at least one preset starting condition is satisfied based on information on a forward environment, and turning on the engine irrespective of whether manipulation of the brake pedal is released when any one of the at least one starting condition is satisfied.

This vehicle control device includes: a distance measurement unit that measures the distance between a vehicle and a preceding vehicle; and an engine control unit that starts up an engine when, in comparison to a distance measured by the distance measurement unit once a host vehicle has stopped and an engine mounted in the host vehicle has stopped, a distance newly measured by the distance measurement unit increases by at least an offset amount that indicates the amount of increase in distance used to determine whether to start up the engine.

Provided is a vehicle control device with which improved fuel economy and lowered exhaust gas emissions can be effectively achieved without adversely affecting the driver when traveling while following a leading vehicle. The present invention has: a following-determination means that, during travel while following a leading vehicle, determines, on the basis of the speed of the host vehicle, the speed of the leading vehicle, and the distance from the leading vehicle, whether the host vehicle will be able to follow the leading vehicle by coasting; and an idle stop determination means that, when the following-determination means has determined that the host vehicle will be able to follow the leading vehicle by coasting, and the driving/travel state of the host vehicle satisfies other traveling idle stop criteria, determines that a traveling idle stop should be performed; and is provided with a determination criteria updating means for updating the determination criteria for the idle stop determination means in regard to criteria such as the leading vehicle characteristics, road surface conditions, and weather. In the event that it has been determined, from the determination conditions that have been updated in regard to the leading vehicle characteristics, etc., that following by coasting is possible, a control to shut off the on-board engine is performed.

An engine idle reduction control apparatus includes a first data acquiring unit, a detecting unit, a first determining unit, a control unit, and a second determining unit. The detecting unit is configured to detect a traffic circle, on the basis of traveling environment data acquired by the first data acquiring unit. The control unit is configured to execute an idle reduction, in a case where the first determining unit determines that a control condition for a pre-stop idle reduction control is satisfied. The second determining unit is configured to determine whether a prohibition condition for the pre-stop idle reduction control is satisfied, in a case where the traffic circle is detected. The control unit is configured to prohibit the idle reduction even in a case where the control condition is determined to be satisfied, on a condition that the prohibition condition is determined to be satisfied.

A method for controlling an SSC-SCC system for increasing a SSC distance using SCC is provided. The method includes determining whether a vehicle in operation satisfies a preset SSC entry condition and entering the SSC mode or maintaining the SSC entry state when the vehicle satisfies the preset SSC entry condition. A distance from a preceding vehicle is measured after the entering of the SSC mode or the maintaining of the SSC entry state. Additionally, the method includes determining whether the measured distance is equal to or less than a preset reference distance and performing SCC braking in response to determining that the measured distance is equal to or less than the preset reference distance.