Abstract: Methods and a system are provided for shaping a torque profile for a motor of a hybrid vehicle. In one example, the method includes during a vehicle launch, an off condition of an engine, and upon receiving an engine start request, predicting a time of engine engagement, predicting a driver requested torque at the engine engagement; and reducing the driver requested torque until the predicted time of engine engagement based on the predicted driver requested torque at the engine engagement. The predicting of at least one of the time of engine engagement and the driver requested torque at the engine engagement may be based on a current position of an accelerator pedal and a driver profile. The method may further include controlling motor torque profile based on the reduced driver request torque.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, torque capacity of a driveline disconnect is coordinated with torque control of an electric machine immediately following engine starting. The electric machine and the driveline disconnect clutch may assist starting of an engine, or alternatively, the engine may be started via a starter motor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing closed-in-bore diagnostics for a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, select operating conditions may be evaluated before closed-in-bore diagnostics may be initiated. In addition, charging of one or more batteries may be reduced to ensure that an engine throttle may operate with a small opening amount to evaluate the presence or absence of sludge in the engine throttle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing closed-in-bore diagnostics for a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, select operating conditions may be evaluated before closed-in-bore diagnostics may be initiated. In addition, charging of one or more batteries may be reduced to ensure that an engine throttle may operate with a small opening amount to evaluate the presence or absence of sludge in the engine throttle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine are presented. In one example, the internal combustion engine is operated in a speed control mode and torque of an electric machine is adjusted so that a possibility of an engine speed controller saturating may be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and a system are provided for shaping a torque profile for a motor of a hybrid vehicle. In one example, the method includes during a vehicle launch, an off condition of an engine, and upon receiving an engine start request, predicting a time of engine engagement, predicting a driver requested torque at the engine engagement; and reducing the driver requested torque until the predicted time of engine engagement based on the predicted driver requested torque at the engine engagement. The predicting of at least one of the time of engine engagement and the driver requested torque at the engine engagement may be based on a current position of an accelerator pedal and a driver profile. The method may further include controlling motor torque profile based on the reduced driver request torque.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid vehicle during an end of assembly line test are presented. In one example, torque of an integrated starter/generator (ISG) is adjusted so that the ISG may not affect engine data that is collected during end of assembly line engine testing. The collected engine data may be a basis for adapting engine operation.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric machine, an engine selectively coupled to the electric machine by a disconnect clutch, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a change in the driver-demanded torque necessitating starting of the engine: determine a state of driving (SOD) based on the change in driver-demanded torque, wherein the SOD is indicative of a desired responsiveness of the vehicle, and the desired responsiveness increases as SOD increases; command a speed target to the engine equal to a predicted motor speed associated with the driver-demanded torque plus an offset that is based on the SOD; and command a capacity to the disconnect clutch at a rate and a magnitude based on the SOD.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a hybrid vehicle that includes an integrated starter/generator and a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not to rotate an engine via an electric machine while propelling a vehicle via the electric machine according to vehicle efficiency.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, torque requests are aligned in time to compensate for a delay that may be caused by broadcasting one or more torque commands over a controller area network or another type of communication link. The torque requests may be aligned via delaying an engine torque request and predicting an electric machine torque.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a hybrid vehicle that includes an integrated starter/generator and a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not to rotate an engine via an electric machine while propelling a vehicle via the electric machine according to vehicle efficiency.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric machine, an engine selectively coupled to the electric machine by a disconnect clutch, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a change in the driver-demanded torque necessitating starting of the engine: determine a state of driving (SOD) based on the change in driver-demanded torque, wherein the SOD is indicative of a desired responsiveness of the vehicle, and the desired responsiveness increases as SOD increases; command a speed target to the engine equal to a predicted motor speed associated with the driver-demanded torque plus an offset that is based on the SOD; and command a capacity to the disconnect clutch at a rate and a magnitude based on the SOD.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a traction motor include operating the engine at an operating point selected based on system efficiency, operating the electric machine to provide an electric machine torque responsive to a difference between a driver demand torque and the engine torque associated with the operating point, and limiting a rate of change of the electric machine torque in response to a rate of change of the driver demand torque. The electric machine torque rate limit may vary continuously responsive to the rate of change of driver demand torque and whether the driver demand torque is increasing or decreasing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, torque requests are aligned in time to compensate for a delay that may be caused by broadcasting one or more torque commands over a controller area network or another type of communication link. The torque requests may be aligned via delaying an engine torque request and predicting an electric machine torque.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid driveline that includes an engine, a motor/generator, and a driveline disconnect clutch are described. The systems and methods may improve vehicle efficiency while providing expected vehicle operation and performance. In one example, transmission line pressure is adjusted to match driveline disconnect clutch torque capacity to driver demand torque.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain has an engine and an electric machine. The controller is programmed to, for so long as a catalytic converter temperature is less than a threshold, maintain a steady state engine torque output and adjust an electric machine torque output to satisfy driver demand. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the catalytic converter temperature exceeding the threshold, permit adjustments of the engine torque output to satisfy the driver demand.

Abstract: Systems and methods for launching a hybrid vehicle that includes a motor/generator and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are described. The systems and methods may permit improved vehicle acceleration to enhance hybrid vehicle performance during specific vehicle launch conditions. The launch conditions may be established based on brake pedal position and accelerator pedal position.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine coupled to a gearbox. A controller is programmed to predict, at an onset of a shift, a supplemental torque profile to fill a torque hole expected during the shift and an available electric machine torque during the shift. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the supplemental torque profile exceeding the available electric machine torque during the shift, operate the engine from the onset to achieve a torque reserve in anticipation of increasing the engine torque.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid driveline that includes an engine, a motor/generator, and a driveline disconnect clutch are described. The systems and methods may improve vehicle efficiency while providing expected vehicle operation and performance. In one example, transmission line pressure is adjusted to match driveline disconnect clutch torque capacity to driver demand torque.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain has an engine and an electric machine. The controller is programmed to, for so long as a catalytic converter temperature is less than a threshold, maintain a steady state engine torque output and adjust an electric machine torque output to satisfy driver demand. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the catalytic converter temperature exceeding the threshold, permit adjustments of the engine torque output to satisfy the driver demand.