Abstract: A vehicle and a method of operation. The method of operating the vehicle may include a method of controlling a creep torque in a vehicle having a powertrain configured to provide variable creep torque. The method may comprise the steps of: detecting a vehicle creep torque condition, determining a brake torque, and adjusting a creep torque applied by the powertrain based on the brake torque.

Abstract: A charging system for a hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, an electric motor generator coupled to the internal combustion engine and operable to be driven as a generator to produce a charging voltage and a battery coupled to the electric motor generator and configured to receive a charge voltage. The charging system further comprises an engine control computer coupled to the internal combustion engine, the electric motor generator and the battery. The engine control computer is configured to determine a threshold for a charging specific fuel consumption (CSFC), calculate an instantaneous CSFC; and initiate active charging of the battery if the instantaneous CSFC is less than or equal to the threshold CSFC.

Abstract: A method for controlling braking of a vehicle having a first axle and a second axle includes the steps of obtaining a deceleration value pertaining to an input from a driver of the vehicle, braking the first axle with a first pressure, braking the second axle with a second pressure that is substantially equal to the first pressure if the deceleration value has not exceeded a predetermined threshold, and braking the second axle with a third pressure that is greater than the first pressure if the deceleration value has exceeded the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for charging a hybrid electric vehicle having a high voltage battery that both propels the vehicle and starts the vehicle. More specifically, if the high voltage battery has a depleted or diminished charge and is unable to start an internal combustion engine, then the method described herein may be used to charge the high voltage battery with energy from a low voltage external power source. In one embodiment, the low voltage external power source is a conventional car battery that is connected to the hybrid electric vehicle by way of jumper cables.

Abstract: A method for controlling braking of a vehicle includes the steps of calculating a first pressure based on a driver request, and providing pressure that does not exceed a predetermined pressure threshold if the vehicle is stationary and the first pressure is less than the predetermined pressure threshold.

Abstract: A method of starting a hybrid electric vehicle when a low voltage battery used for starting the vehicle has a depleted charge and a high voltage battery used for propelling the vehicle has ample charge to share. Assuming that other factors are satisfied, the system and method described herein may enable the high voltage battery to provide the low voltage battery with enough charge so that it is able to start an internal combustion engine but not so much charge that it undesirably drains the high voltage battery to a point where it cannot be replenished.

Abstract: A method for controlling braking in a vehicle having a brake pedal includes the steps of obtaining a first measure of braking intent based on movement of the brake pedal, obtaining a second measure of braking intent based on a force applied to the brake pedal, controlling the braking based on the first measure provided that a transition parameter is less than a first predetermined value, controlling the braking based on the second measure provided that the transition parameter is greater than a second predetermined value, and controlling the braking based on the first measure and the second measure provided that the transition parameter is greater than the first predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of optimizing steering and stability performance of a vehicle includes measuring a set of inertial data during a regenerative braking event (RBE), calculating a set of vehicle performance data using the inertial data, and comparing the performance data to calibrated threshold data to determine a maximum regenerative braking torque (RBT). The maximum RBT is automatically applied during the active RBE. The vehicle includes a chassis, an electric motor/generator for applying an RBT, a frictional braking system, chassis inertial sensors for measuring a set of chassis inertial data, and a controller having an algorithm for calculating a set of vehicle performance data using the chassis inertial data. The controller determines the maximum RBT by comparing the vehicle performance data to corresponding threshold data. The chassis inertial sensors can include accelerometers, a yaw rate sensor, a steering rate sensor, speed sensors, and/or a braking input sensor.

Abstract: A braking system includes a brake travel sensor configured to generate travel data indicative of the distance a brake pedal has been displaced and a brake pressure sensor configured to generate force data indicative of the amount of force applied to the brake pedal. The braking system also comprises a brake controller configured to determine a first torque request from the travel data and a second torque request from the force data. The brake controller is further configured to generate brake commands from the first torque request when the first torque request and the second torque request are below a transition flag.

Abstract: A vehicle and a method of operation is disclosed. The method of operating the vehicle may include a method of controlling a creep torque in a vehicle having a powertrain configured to provide variable creep torque. The method may comprise the steps of: detecting a vehicle creep torque condition, determining a brake torque, and adjusting a creep torque applied by the powertrain based on the brake torque.

Abstract: A method for determining driver efficiency in a vehicle includes the steps of measuring a vehicle parameter, and calculating the driver efficiency based, at least in part, on the vehicle parameter. The vehicle parameter is influenced, at least in part, by an action taken by a driver.

Abstract: A method for determining driver efficiency in a hybrid vehicle includes the steps of measuring a hybrid vehicle parameter, and calculating driver efficiency based, at least in part, on the hybrid vehicle parameter. The hybrid vehicle parameter is influenced, at least in part, by an action taken by a driver.

Abstract: A braking distribution system is provided for system with a front regenerative braking system and a rear regenerative braking system. The system comprises a brake controller coupled to the front regenerative braking system and the rear regenerative braking system, and the brake controller is configured to receive a braking request, a first amount of braking that is available from the front regenerative braking system, and a second amount of braking that is available from the rear regenerative braking system. The controller is also configured to calculate a front base braking based at least in part on the braking request and a front base braking distribution, calculate a rear base braking based at least in part on the braking request and a rear base braking distribution, and determine a front regenerative braking request and a rear regenerative braking request based on the first amount and the second amount.

Abstract: A braking system includes a brake travel sensor configured to generate travel data indicative of the distance a brake pedal has been displaced and a brake pressure sensor configured to generate force data indicative of the amount of force applied to the brake pedal. The braking system also comprises a brake controller configured to determine a first torque request from the travel data and a second torque request from the force data. The brake controller is further configured to generate brake commands from the first torque request when the first torque request and the second torque request are below a transition flag.

Abstract: A fuel savings informational system is provided for implementation on an alternative fuel vehicle the operation of which may be characterized by a first plurality of fixed parameters and a second plurality of variable parameters. The system compares the fuel consumption of the alternative fuel vehicle to that of a virtual comparison vehicle characterized by a third plurality of fixed parameters, and comprises a plurality of sensors for monitoring the second plurality and a processor coupled thereto. The processor is configured to recall the first and third pluralities, capture data corresponding to the second plurality, and determine the fuel consumption of the alternative fuel vehicle from the second plurality. The processor is further configured to estimate the fuel consumption of the comparison vehicle from the first, second, and third pluralities, and compare the fuel consumption of the alternative fuel vehicle to the estimated fuel consumption of the comparison vehicle.

Abstract: A propulsion system designed for hybrid vehicles utilizing a first torque path from a coupled motor generator system and internal combustion engine through and automatically shifted manual transmission having a secondary torque path from a secondary torque source to the wheels. The system incorporates the high-efficiency of a manual transmission with the smoothness of the most advanced automatic transmissions by utilizing a second torque path to maintain driver requested torque during shifts and braking requests.

Abstract: A propulsion system for use in a hybrid vehicle, wherein a first propulsion system provides a driving force to a first pair of wheels and a second propulsion system provides a driving force to a second pair of wheels. A system controller actuates the propulsion systems determines the necessary commands to be provided to the first and second propulsion systems so as to provide the vehicle with the most efficient driving and/or stopping force.

Abstract: A propulsion system designed for hybrid vehicle's utilizing a first torque path from a coupled motor generator system and internal combustion engine through and automatically shifted manual transmission having a secondary torque path from a secondary torque source to the wheels. The system incorporates the high-efficiency of a manual transmission with the smoothness of the most advanced automatic transmissions by utilizing a second torque path to maintain driver requested torque during shifts. The system is also capable of performing shifts without opening the clutch by utilizing active synchronization of the input shaft RPM combined with the force control of the shifting actuator. This results in fast and smooth shifts that disengage and reengage without unpleasant torque pulsations.

Abstract: A vehicle has an electric propulsion motor, a regenerative brake control and an anti-lock friction brake system which responds to excess wheel slip of a front wheel during braking to modulate friction braking torque to reduce the excess wheel slip. It further has a control responsive to activation of the anti-lock brake system to prevent the application of regenerative braking during such activation. The regenerative braking may be blended with the friction braking when anti-lock braking is not activated so that battery charge is conserved. When the anti-lock braking is activated, however, the regenerative braking is ramped down to preserve smoothness in the braking. The regenerative braking may be applied to create drag during vehicle coastdown. When anti-lock braking is activated, if it is sensed that the wheel is on a low friction (.mu.) surface, the regenerative braking is removed immediately.

Abstract: A vehicle traction control system comprising an electric motor and drive system for an electric vehicle, at least one driven wheel mechanically connected to the electric motor and drive system, at least one non-driven wheel, and a controller coupled to the driven wheel, the non-driven wheel and the motor for controlling the motor and drive system to provide traction control for the vehicle by sensing a positive wheel slip between the driven and non-driven wheel, determining a control command responsive to the sensed slip, applying the control command to the motor and drive system to affect positive motor drive torque from the motor when the control command is less than an acceleration request, and applying the control command to the motor and drive system to affect regenerative braking when the control command is less than an acceleration request, wherein during regenerative braking, positive tractive force is provided by inertia of the motor and drive system, wherein the single control command controls both