If a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value when a hybrid control mode is a series mode and a charge mode is selected (S10-S14), it is determined whether an SOC of a high voltage battery is less than a predetermined value or not (S16), and when the SOC of the high voltage battery is less than the predetermined value, ignition timing is corrected to be retarded (S18).

An exemplary method includes applying both friction braking and powertrain braking when decelerating a vehicle to a stop, the applying in response to a driver lifting off an accelerator pedal. An exemplary assembly includes a powertrain brake, a friction brake, and a braking controller configured to command the powertrain brake to apply powertrain braking and the friction brake to apply friction braking to stop a vehicle in response to a driver lifting off an accelerator pedal.

A vehicle drive system for a vehicle including a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, and a rechargeable power source can be configured for reduced fuel consumption at idle. The vehicle drive system includes an electric motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the first prime mover. The control system causes fuel to be eliminated to the first prime mover while the vehicle is stopped and causes the electric motor to rotate the first prime mover at a speed, thereby reducing fuel consumption at idle for the vehicle.

A utility vehicle with regenerative braking is disclosed. The utility vehicle includes a power bus, a battery coupled to the system power bus, and at least one electric drive motor to generate power through regenerative braking and supply the generated power onto the power bus. The utility vehicle includes a power regulation controller configured to direct the generated power to the battery to recharge the battery when the battery is not fully charged, direct the generated power to at least one power sink to consume the generated power when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is less than or equal to a power consumption limit, and reduce a maximum travel speed to reduce an amount of power generated by the at least one electric drive motor through regenerative braking when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is greater than the power consumption limit.

When a brake is turned on during travel of a hybrid vehicle, a required braking force required for a drive shaft is set based on a brake depression amount, a base rotation speed of an engine is set based on the required braking force, a shift stage is set based on the base rotation speed and a vehicle speed, a target rotation speed of the engine is set based on the shift stage and the vehicle speed, and the engine, the first motor, and the second motor are controlled such that the engine operates at the target rotation speed and the required braking force acts on the drive shaft.

A vehicle control system for preventing malfunction of the clutch for selectively connecting the engine with the power train. The vehicle control system is applied to a vehicle having an engine, a motor disposed on a power train, and a clutch interposed therebetween. In order to prevent a malfunction of the clutch, the vehicle control system is configured to engage the clutch while causing a slip but without starting the engine if the engine has not yet been started.

A suspension characteristic is changed depending on a travel state by a simple structure. An ECU uses a vehicle speed-spring constant setting part to calculate a target spring constant depending on a vehicle speed, and uses a spring constant-frequency setting part to calculate a set frequency corresponding to the target spring constant. An oscillation input calculation part generates a signal representing an oscillation input oscillating at the set frequency. A superimposition part sets a value acquired by superimposing the oscillation input on a target driving force to a new target driving force. As a result, the wheel exhibits a minute oscillation in a longitudinal direction, resulting in an input of the minute oscillation to a suspension bush. The suspension bush changes in a spring constant and a damping coefficient depending on the frequency of the input minute oscillation. As a result, the suspension characteristic can be changed.

Section acquisition systems, methods, and programs acquire a scheduled travel route of a vehicle driven by at least one of an internal combustion engine or a motor. The systems, methods, and programs divide the scheduled travel route that is in a range of a predetermined distance from a current location into a plurality of sections such that a difference in traffic congestion degree is distinguished, and divide the scheduled travel route that is not in the range of the predetermined distance from the current location into a plurality of sections such that a difference in travel load is distinguished.

Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a boost phase of a procedure to close a driveline disconnect clutch may be cut short in response to an engine changing state from not rotating to rotating so that the engine may be restarted in an alternative way. The system and methods may also predict a degraded engine start from a low engine cranking speed or a long cranking time duration so that the engine may be started in an alternative way to increase a possibility of starting the engine and decrease the severity of degraded driveline disturbance.

A hybrid vehicle control device for controlling a hybrid vehicle with an engine and an electric motor as drive sources of the vehicle includes a high-load road travel determination unit configured to determine whether or not the vehicle is traveling on a high running resistance road surface on which a predetermined vehicle acceleration is unobtainable only by an output of the engine, and a motor output setting unit configured to set an output of the electric motor. If the vehicle is determined to be traveling on the high running resistance road surface by the high-load road travel determination unit, the motor output setting unit limits the output of the electric motor when a vehicle speed reaches a predetermined vehicle speed.