Abstract: A method for improving energy efficient operation of a vehicle includes monitoring vehicle operating characteristics, modeling operation of the vehicle by utilizing the vehicle operating characteristics to estimate energy consumption rates of the vehicle across an allowable vehicle operating range, and generating a control output to the vehicle on the basis of the energy consumption rates.

Abstract: A method for improving energy efficient operation of a vehicle includes monitoring vehicle operating characteristics, modeling operation of the vehicle by utilizing the vehicle operating characteristics to estimate energy consumption rates of the vehicle across an allowable vehicle operating range, and generating a control output to the vehicle on the basis of the energy consumption rates.

Abstract: A modulator motor and drive unit for use in an electrical device, such as a hand food mixer, wherein the motor is characterized by a low-cost speed control which is capable of providing a large number of discrete motor speeds. The speed control, rather than utilizing a multi-contact switch connected to the field coil by individual taps, has approximately twenty field coil continuous loop taps wound over a bobbin spindle in side-by-side relationship with a wiper contact being slideably movable relative thereto along a path from which the insulation has been removed. Positions of the wiper contact may be determined by replaceable detent elements provided with different detent patterns providing different series of motor speeds whereby the same motor and drive module may be provided within a suitable housing(s) for the economical production of several different models of such electrical devices having differing speed selections.