Abstract: A vehicle includes a connector for coupling a battery in the vehicle to a load external to the vehicle. An energy management system includes a controller that is programmed to operate the battery in a vehicle according to a target state of charge range that is defined by upper and lower state of charge limits. In response to receiving a request to prepare for power generation at a destination prior to arriving at the destination, the controller increases the lower state of charge limit as the distance to the destination decreases. In response to the request, the battery is operated during the drive cycle to the destination so that the battery state of charge at the destination allows the battery to provide power to the external load for a predetermined period of time before an engine is started.

Abstract: A vehicle and a method of controlling a powertrain are provided. The vehicle may include a controller programmed to operate a powertrain in a hybrid mode. The controller may be further programmed to, responsive to a request to operate the powertrain in electric mode, transition powertrain operation from the hybrid mode to the electric mode without shifting gears until a change in accelerator pedal position exceeds a threshold following the transition.

Abstract: A controller and control strategies minimize shift shock in a hybrid electric vehicle during a downshift during regenerative braking by maintaining the transmission input speed substantially linear when the transmission input speed is slowing. The controller and the control strategies control the regenerative braking torque during a downshift occurring during regenerative braking in such a way that the transmission input speed is maintained substantially linear when the transmission input speed is slowing during a torque phase of the downshift.

Abstract: A controller and a control strategy minimizes shift shock in a hybrid electric vehicle during a downshift conducted while the vehicle is in a regenerative braking mode by maintaining total powertrain torque at a desired target during the downshift. The controller has three preferable modes including modulating just engine torque, modulating just electric motor torque or simultaneously modulating both motor and engine torque.

Abstract: A powered sliding platform assembly may include an actuator, a platform, and a controller. The platform may have a rail defining first and second openings configured to receive a pin of an actuator. The actuator and the rail may be arranged such that while the platform moves between extended and retracted positions, the pin rides along the rail between the openings. The controller may be programmed to, in response to a signal indicative of an object being proximate the platform, inhibit movement of the platform.

Abstract: A vehicle and a method of controlling a powertrain are provided. The vehicle may include a controller programmed to operate a powertrain in a hybrid mode. The controller may be further programmed to, responsive to a request to operate the powertrain in electric mode, transition powertrain operation from the hybrid mode to the electric mode without shifting gears until a change in accelerator pedal position exceeds a threshold following the transition.

Abstract: A controller and a control strategy minimizes shift shock in a hybrid electric vehicle during a downshift conducted while the vehicle is in a regenerative braking mode by maintaining total powertrain torque at a desired target during the downshift. The controller has three preferable modes including modulating just engine torque, modulating just electric motor torque or simultaneously modulating both motor and engine torque.

Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present discourse includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle by pressurizing a transmission pump in response to an anticipated shift change trigger. The anticipated shift change trigger may include touching a shift device of the vehicle, or detecting that a vehicle occupant is in proximity to the shift device of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle having an electric traction motor coupled to a transmission by a clutch include modifying traction motor torque in response to the difference between rotational speed of a driveline component and the filtered rotational speed of the driveline component to reduce driveline oscillation when the clutch is locked. The traction motor torque may be modified in response to a vehicle event that may otherwise induce driveline oscillations, such as a transmission ratio change or regenerative braking, for example.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a motive power source, a transmission, and a clutch system. The vehicle further includes a controller that causes the clutch system to generate a generally constant clutch pressure to mechanically couple the motive power source and transmission as a line pressure associated with the transmission varies.

Abstract: A control strategy is provided for a hybrid vehicle that will increase drivability during low or decreasing driver demands. Coordination between shifting the transmission and stopping or (non-demand) starting of the engine can increase drivability. The vehicle includes a motor/generator with one side selectively coupled to the engine and another side selectively coupled to the transmission. The control strategy acts when an engine start or stop is requested while driver demand is decreasing and a shift of the transmission is demanded. To inhibit these events from proceeding simultaneously, the control strategy delays the engine from starting or stopping until the transmission has finished shifting, or vice versa.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a connector for coupling a battery in the vehicle to a load external to the vehicle. An energy management system includes a controller that is programmed to operate the battery in a vehicle according to a target state of charge range that is defined by upper and lower state of charge limits. In response to receiving a request to prepare for power generation at a destination prior to arriving at the destination, the controller increases the lower state of charge limit as the distance to the destination decreases. In response to the request, the battery is operated during the drive cycle to the destination so that the battery state of charge at the destination allows the battery to provide power to the external load for a predetermined period of time before an engine is started.

Abstract: A vehicle including a powertrain having an electric machine, an engine, a traction battery, and a controller are provided. The controller may be programmed to, in response to a state of charge of the traction battery being less than a threshold while the traction battery is powering a device external to the vehicle, operate the powertrain to charge the traction battery at a rate based on an ambient temperature irrespective of an electric load requested by the device.

Abstract: In response to a transmission upshift command and a transmission element speed being greater than a threshold, a controller may reduce a rate of engine air intake prior to initial engagement of an oncoming shift element, at least until a target speed ratio is achieved. This reduction may reduce a transmission input torque such that upshift driveline disturbances are reduced.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and is at least partially propelled by a fraction battery and a traction motor. A clutch is configured to be coupled to the traction motor. An electrical and/or mechanical pump provides pressure to control the clutch. At least one controller determines if the clutch is slipping. In response to the clutch slipping, the at least one controller commands an increase in speed of an input of the clutch such that the available line pressure to control the slipping of the clutch is increased. The line pressure is then applied to the clutch in order to control the slipping of the clutch.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a power source, such as an engine, an electric machine, or combination thereof. A torque converter is selectively coupled to the power source such that drive torque can be altered before being distributed into a transmission of the vehicle. A torque converter bypass clutch enables torque from the power source to selectively transmit directly to the transmission with little or no torque altering provided by the torque converter. At least one controller in the vehicle is in communication with a storage device. The controller sends road condition data to the storage device regarding a road segment. During a subsequent drive to or over the road segment, the controller receives the road condition data and enables the torque converter bypass clutch to slip to dampen driveline disturbances when the vehicle passes over the road segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for starting an engine of a hybrid vehicle that includes two electric machines capable of starting an engine are presented. In one example, one of the two electric machines is selected to start the engine in response to degradation of one or more vehicle components and an engine start request.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid electric powertrain includes, in response to a request to increase a powertrain braking force on at least one of a plurality of traction wheels, (i) commanding at least one clutch to increase a gear ratio of a transmission, and (ii) during clutch stroke, commanding an electric machine to act as a generator such that the electric machine applies a braking force to at least one of the traction wheels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for starting an engine of a hybrid vehicle that includes two electric machines capable of starting an engine are presented. In one example, one of the two electric machines is selected to start the engine in response to degradation of one or more vehicle components and an engine start request.

Abstract: Systems for managing downshifts in hybrid-electric vehicles are disclosed. The systems include a multispeed transmission, an internal combustion engine selectively coupled to the multispeed transmission, an electric motor coupled to the multispeed transmission, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is programmed to evaluate a torque demand, start the internal combustion engine, and pre-stage a downshift shift sequence by partially disengaging a second shift clutch and partially engaging a first shift clutch. The electronic control unit is also programmed to interrupt the downshift shift sequence until a pre-determined torque supplemental event occurs and later complete the downshift shift sequence by modifying the hydraulic pressure through the valve body to completely disengage a second gear set from the input shaft with the second shift clutch and completely engage a first gear set and the input shaft with the first shift clutch.