Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes front-wheel and rear-wheel driving systems, and a control system. The front-wheel driving system includes a first travel motor mechanically coupled to a front wheel of a vehicle and a first accumulator electrically coupled to the first travel motor. The rear-wheel driving system includes a second travel motor mechanically coupled to a rear wheel of the vehicle and a second accumulator electrically coupled to the second travel motor. The control system includes one or more processors and one or more memories communicably coupled to the one or more processors, and controls the first and second travel motors. When a difference between an SOC of the first accumulator and an SOC of the second accumulator is greater than a threshold value, the one or more processors change a torque distribution ratio between the first and second travel motors from a reference distribution ratio.

Abstract: A vehicle heat management system includes a refrigerant circuit, a battery temperature regulation circuit, and an electric part cooling circuit. The refrigerant circuit circulates a refrigerant to regulate a temperature inside a passenger compartment through the refrigerant circuit. The battery temperature regulation circuit regulates a temperature of a battery by introducing a liquid that exchanges heat with the refrigerant to the battery. The electric part cooling circuit circulates a liquid cooled by a radiator circulates through the electric part cooling circuit, and is capable of cooling a first and second pieces for driving a vehicle. In a first mode, the liquid cooled by the radiator cools the first piece of equipment, the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit cools the second piece of equipment, and the liquid which has exchanged heat with the refrigerant is introduced in parallel to the battery and the second piece of equipment.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a first detector detecting first information related to a condition of a first road surface; a second detector contactlessly detecting second information related to a condition of a second road surface; and a controller controlling a driving force of the vehicle using a friction coefficient estimated based on the first and/or second information. A processor(s) of the controller execute(s) a process including: determining whether the conditions are of a same type based on the first and second information; when the conditions are of different types, controlling the driving force using a friction coefficient estimated based on the second information as a friction coefficient of the second road surface; and based on determining that the conditions are of the same type, controlling the driving force using a friction coefficient estimated based on the first information as the road surface friction coefficient of the second road surface.

Abstract: A drive system for a four-wheel drive vehicle including a friction brake system includes a first motor and a second motor, a propeller shaft for transmitting power between a front-wheel side and a rear-wheel side, a first differential mechanism configured to divide output torque of the first motor between a left wheel on one side of the front-wheel side and the rear-wheel side and the other side, a second differential mechanism configured to divide output torque of the second motor between a right wheel on the one side and the other side, and a control device for controlling regenerative braking force related to the first motor and the second motor and friction braking force related to the friction brake system. The first and second differential mechanisms are configured such that the ratio of output torque allocated to the front-wheel side is 50% or more.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a motor and a controller. The controller is configured to; based on determining that the electric motor is in the locked state, set a search target torque greater than a value of torque demanded by a driver, and execute a increase of the motor torque up to the set target torque; upon making a determination that the locked state is ceased, store a value of the target torque at a time of making the determination, and execute a decrease of the target torque; and when a second value of the torque demanded by the driver becomes the value of the target torque or more after the decrease of the target torque, set a second value of the target torque in accordance with the second value of the torque demanded by the driver, and drive the electric motor in accordance with the set target torque.

Abstract: A power distribution apparatus for an electric vehicle includes a power distribution mechanism configured to distribute power output from an electric motor to front and rear wheels, and a controller configured to control the power distribution mechanism. The power distribution mechanism includes a first clutch configured to fix a power distribution ratio during straight traveling to a first distribution ratio at which first power distributed to the rear wheels and second power distributed to the front wheels are nearly same, and a second clutch configured to fix the power distribution ratio during straight traveling to a second distribution ratio at which the first power is larger than the second power. The controller is configured set the second clutch to an engaged state and sets the first clutch to a half-engaged state during regenerative braking.

Abstract: A vehicle heat management system includes a refrigerant circuit, a battery temperature regulation circuit, and an electric part cooling circuit. The refrigerant circuit circulates a refrigerant to regulate a temperature inside a passenger compartment through the refrigerant circuit. The battery temperature regulation circuit regulates a temperature of a battery by introducing a liquid that exchanges heat with the refrigerant to the battery. The electric part cooling circuit circulates a liquid cooled by a radiator circulates through the electric part cooling circuit, and is capable of cooling a first and second pieces for driving a vehicle. In a first mode, the liquid cooled by the radiator cools the first piece of equipment, the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit cools the second piece of equipment, and the liquid which has exchanged heat with the refrigerant is introduced in parallel to the battery and the second piece of equipment.

Abstract: A vehicle heat management system includes a refrigerant circuit, a battery temperature regulation circuit, and an electric part cooling circuit. The refrigerant circuit circulates a refrigerant to regulate a temperature inside a passenger compartment through the refrigerant circuit. The battery temperature regulation circuit regulates a temperature of a battery by introducing a liquid that exchanges heat with the refrigerant to the battery. The electric part cooling circuit circulates a liquid cooled by a radiator circulates through the electric part cooling circuit, and is capable of cooling a first and second pieces for driving a vehicle. In a first mode, the liquid cooled by the radiator cools the first piece of equipment, the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit cools the second piece of equipment, and the liquid which has exchanged heat with the refrigerant is introduced in parallel to the battery and the second piece of equipment.