Abstract: A system includes a first and a second vehicle power distribution buses electrically isolated from one another, a first DC to DC converter electrically connected to the first power distribution bus, and a second DC to DC converter electrically connected to the second power distribution bus. The system includes a first battery electrically connected to the first power distribution bus, and a second battery electrically connected to the second power distribution bus.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes a controller and control method to control position of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine when the engine is stopped and the vehicle is moving to balance bearing wear associated with road-surface induced vibrations or oscillations imparted to the bearings while the crankshaft is not rotating. The controller is configured to store information relating to a cumulative time stopped at a plurality of angular positions of the crankshaft while the vehicle is in operation and/or moving, and to control stopping or repositioning of the crankshaft to balance or approximately evenly distribute the stopping positions among the plurality angular stopping positions to reduce or eliminate the possibility of excessive wear at any particular position relative to the others.

Abstract: A method of positioning an electric vehicle, such as a battery electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or similar vehicle relative to a charging point includes receiving at the vehicle a global positioning system (GPS) signal, receiving at the vehicle a global positioning system correction signal, correcting the global positioning system signal using the global positioning system correction signal, and positioning the vehicle relative to the charging point using the corrected global positioning system signal such that the vehicle can be charged by the charging point.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the operation of a mild hybrid electric vehicle having an engine and high and low voltage power systems selectively connectable via a DC to DC converter. The method comprises whenever possible using only a low voltage battery forming part of the low voltage power system to power low voltage loads during an engine E-stop performed automatically to save fuel and reduce emissions and whenever possible using only a high voltage battery forming part of the high voltage power system to recharge the low voltage battery when the engine is restarted following the E-stop.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller that is configured to, while a battery temperature exceeds a threshold and state of charge (SOC) is above an SOC threshold, enable an electric machine to provide torque assistance at a power limit, and responsive to the temperature dropping below the threshold, increase the power limit and enable the electric machine to provide torque assistance while the SOC is above a cold SOC threshold less than the SOC threshold.

Abstract: A belt slip monitor system and method configured to determine whether a belt coupled to a motor-generator is slipping based on operational states of first and second movable portions of the belt slip monitor, wherein the operational states of the first and second movable portions are dependent upon the tension in the belt.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller that is configured to, while a battery temperature exceeds a threshold and state of charge (SOC) is above an SOC threshold, enable an electric machine to provide torque assistance at a power limit, and responsive to the temperature dropping below the threshold, increase the power limit and enable the electric machine to provide torque assistance while the SOC is above a cold SOC threshold less than the SOC threshold.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes a controller and control method to control position of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine when the engine is stopped and the vehicle is moving to balance bearing wear associated with road-surface induced vibrations or oscillations imparted to the bearings while the crankshaft is not rotating. The controller is configured to store information relating to a cumulative time stopped at a plurality of angular positions of the crankshaft while the vehicle is in operation and/or moving, and to control stopping or repositioning of the crankshaft to balance or approximately evenly distribute the stopping positions among the plurality angular stopping positions to reduce or eliminate the possibility of excessive wear at any particular position relative to the others.

Abstract: A system includes a first and a second vehicle power distribution buses electrically isolated from one another, a first DC to DC converter electrically connected to the first power distribution bus, and a second DC to DC converter electrically connected to the second power distribution bus. The system includes a first battery electrically connected to the first power distribution bus, and a second battery electrically connected to the second power distribution bus.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tensioning a belt of a belt drive of an internal combustion engine. In one example, a movable tensioning means assigned to an active tensioner is provided, which applies a force to a belt of a belt drive, and the active tensioner is controlled such that a compression of a spring of the tensioner is at least countered, so that a movement of the tensioning means under the load of the belt is at least hindered. The belt is then excited to vibration in a contact zone between the belt and the movable tensioning means by use of a starter so that the tensioning means exposed to the force of the spring is moved further in the direction of the belt under expansion of the spring, whereby the belt is tensioned.

Abstract: A method of stopping and starting an engine of a vehicle having a manually operated clutch system including a clutch for driveably connecting the engine to a transmission includes controlling stopping and starting of the engine based on first and second clutch engagement thresholds selected based on whether the clutch is being engaged or disengaged. The first threshold corresponds to a more disengaged state of the clutch than the second threshold. The first threshold is used when the clutch is being disengaged to decide whether the engine can be shut down while the transmission remains in-gear. The second threshold is used when the clutch is being engaged to decide whether the engine can be started while the transmission remains in-gear. By using a less conservative threshold for starting the engine than stopping the engine, the number of inhibited restarts is reduced.

Abstract: A method for assisting with the positioning of a motor vehicle for inductive charging of a battery of the motor vehicle comprises reading a number plate associated with the motor vehicle using the number plate information to produce a location on the vehicle of a vehicle inductive coupling point (VICP) with reference to at least one reference point on the motor vehicle, comparing a predicted current position of the VICP to a fixed inductive coupling point (ICP) located in or on a road surface upon which the motor vehicle is to be positioned, and providing feedback to one of the driver and the motor vehicle indicative of the required action required to produce alignment of the VICP with the ICP. The method may further comprise energizing the ICP to charge the battery of the motor vehicle when the VICP is predicted to be aligned with the ICP.

Abstract: A belt slip monitor system and method configured to determine whether a belt coupled to a motor-generator is slipping based on operational states of first and second movable portions of the belt slip monitor, wherein the operational states of the first and second movable portions are dependent upon the tension in the belt.

Abstract: A belt slip monitor system and method configured to determine whether a belt coupled to a motor-generator is slipping based on operational states of first and second movable portions of the belt slip monitor, wherein the operational states of the first and second movable portions are dependent upon the tension in the belt.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tensioning a belt of a belt drive of an internal combustion engine. In one example, a movable tensioning means assigned to an active tensioner is provided, which applies a force to a belt of a belt drive, and the active tensioner is controlled such that a compression of a spring of the tensioner is at least countered, so that a movement of the tensioning means under the load of the belt is at least hindered. The belt is then excited to vibration in a contact zone between the belt and the movable tensioning means by use of a starter so that the tensioning means exposed to the force of the spring is moved further in the direction of the belt under expansion of the spring, whereby the belt is tensioned.

Abstract: A method for starting and operating an engine of a mild hybrid vehicle following start-up is disclosed for an engine having low and high voltage starting devices, and controlled by an electronic controller. The method comprises using the high voltage starting device as a motor to crank the engine whenever possible so as to partially discharge a high voltage battery. The method further comprises using the high voltage starting device as a generator after starting the engine if the exhaust gas temperature needs to be increased so as to assist with light-off of one or more exhaust gas after treatment devices.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor vehicle having a turbocharged engine is disclosed in which deactivation of cylinders of the engine is controlled to prevent the rotational speed of a turbocharger of the engine falling below a predefined limit TA, TB. Following commencement of a coast down of the motor vehicle all cylinders of the engine are first deactivated so as to maximise energy recuperation from the motor vehicle by a belt integrated starter generator driveably connected to the engine. However, if the speed of the turbocharger reaches one of the speed limits TA, TB at least one cylinder of the engine is reactivated to keep the turbocharger spinning.

Abstract: A method of positioning an electric vehicle, such as a battery electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or similar vehicle relative to a charging point includes receiving at the vehicle a global positioning system (GPS) signal, receiving at the vehicle a global positioning system correction signal, correcting the global positioning system signal using the global positioning system correction signal, and positioning the vehicle relative to the charging point using the corrected global positioning system signal such that the vehicle can be charged by the charging point.

Abstract: A vehicle control system, a surface marking for a surface upon which a vehicle can be positioned and a method of positioning a vehicle is provided. The vehicle control system is configured to position a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a mobile inductive charging point. The vehicle control system comprises one or more parking sensors configured to determine the position of the vehicle relative to a surface upon which the vehicle is positioned and/or obstacles around the vehicle. The one or more parking sensors are further configured to locate a visual indicator indicating the position of a fixed inductive charging point relative to the vehicle, and a parking assistance controller configured to automatically park the vehicle in a parking space on the surface based on data from the one or more parking sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for recuperating energy from a motor vehicle is described in which during an engine overrun period kinetic energy from the slowing motor vehicle is used to drive a high pressure fuel pump at a high demand level so as to store fuel at high pressure in a fuel accumulator for later use by an engine of the motor vehicle.