Abstract:
In one aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle comprising an engine, the vehicle being operable automatically to stop the engine responsive to a determination that the engine is not required to provide torque to drive the vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises control means operable to monitor a value of one or more parameters associated with the vehicle during a drive cycle, the control means being arranged automatically to determine whether a current driving style of a driver corresponds to an economy-oriented driving style or a performance-oriented driving style responsive to the value of the one or more parameters over time during the drive cycle, the control means being operable to over-ride stopping of the engine when it is determined that the driving style of the driver corresponds to a performance-oriented style.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a control system for a hybrid electric vehicle having an engine (121) and first (123C) and second (123B) electric machines operable as propulsion motors. The second electric machine is arranged to be drivably coupled to the engine, the engine being arranged to be drivably coupled to a driveline of the vehicle by clutch means (122). The system is operable to control the vehicle to operate in one selected from amongst: an engine-driven mode in which the clutch means is closed and the engine applies torque to the driveline of the vehicle; an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the clutch means is open and the first electric machine applies torque to the driveline; and an EV boost mode in which the clutch means is closed and both the first and second electric machines apply torque to the driveline, the engine being motored by the second electric machine, the mode in which the vehicle is operated being selected by the system in dependence on the value of one or more vehicle parameters.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a control system for a hybrid electric vehicle (100), the vehicle having a powertrain (135) comprising at least one electric propulsion motor (123) and at least one engine (121), the control system being operable to control the vehicle to operate in an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the at least one engine remains switched off and the at least one electric propulsion motor is configured to deliver drive torque and a boost mode in which the at least one engine is switched on to provide additional power to drive the vehicle. When the vehicle is operating in EV mode the system is further operable to determine whether a boost location exists ahead of the vehicle being a location at which a gradient of a driving surface is sufficiently high to require selection of the boost mode, the control system being operable automatically to command starting of the at least one engine before the boost location is reached.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system for a host motor vehicle having regenerative braking means (122) and non-regenerative braking means. The system is operable to control a powertrain and the braking means of the host vehicle to maintain the vehicle at a target distance (d_target) behind the followed vehicle, the target distance being substantially equal to a second distance that is greater than a first distance (d_driver); and employ substantially only the regenerative braking means and not the non-regenerative braking means to slow the host vehicle when the host vehicle is greater than the first distance (d_driver) behind the followed vehicle and the ACC system determines that braking is required to maintain the vehicle at the target distance.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide control means for a vehicle, the control means being operable to control charging of tractive energy storage means of the vehicle, the control means being configured to allow charging of the energy storage means in dependence on a location of the vehicle and a time of day, wherein if the location of the vehicle corresponds to one or more prescribed locations the control means is operable to permit charging only during one or more prescribed periods of the day.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a controller (140) for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the controller (140) being operable to control a HEV to assume a HEV mode of operation in which each of a plurality of actuators (121, 123) of a HEV is controlled to assume a prescribed operational state, the controller being configured to control a HEV to assume an operational mode responsive to data in respect of a route of a journey to be made by a HEV, a route comprising at least one route segment, the controller (140) being configured to determine a target state of charge of an energy storage device (150) of a HEV for each said at least one route segment being a state of charge of an energy storage device (150) that is to be achieved at the end of said at least one segment responsive to the data in respect of a route, the controller (140) being further configured to control the HEV to achieve the target state of charge at the end of said at least one segment.
Abstract:
A method of controlling a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle including an electric propulsion system, an engine, and a catalytic converter associated with the engine, the method comprising: monitoring a state of charge of a battery of the vehicle when in a charge depletion mode; determining a rate of depletion of the state of charge; estimating from the rate of depletion a duration of a depletion period representing the time remaining until a minimum state of charge of the battery will be reached; determining a duration of a warming period of the catalytic converter; comparing the duration of the depletion period and the duration of the warming period; and activating the engine if the duration of the depletion period is less than or equal to the duration of the warming period.
Abstract:
In an aspect of the invention there is provided a speed control system for a hybrid electric vehicle, the vehicle having at least one engine and at least one electric machine, the system being operable to allow a driver to set a target vehicle speed, the system being operable in first and second speed control modes to control the vehicle to maintain the target vehicle speed, in the first speed control mode the system being configured to limit operation of the vehicle to an electric vehicle (EV) mode, in the second speed control mode the system being configured not to limit operation of the vehicle to the EV mode, wherein when the control system is in the first mode and at least one of a prescribed one or more conditions is met, e.g. a rate of acceleration demanded by the driver or a difference between a target vehicle speed and a current vehicle speed exceeds a respective prescribed threshold value, the system is operable to not limit operation of the vehicle to the EV mode.
Abstract:
In an aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus configured to predict at least a portion of a route that a vehicle is travelling, the apparatus being operable to compare data recorded in respect of a history of a current route a vehicle is travelling with data in respect of one or more routes a vehicle may travel thereby to predict at least a portion of a current route of a vehicle, the apparatus being further configured to control operation of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in dependence on data in respect of said at least a portion of a predicted route.
Abstract:
A hybrid electric vehicle (100) comprising: a fuel powered engine (121) and electric motor means (123) operable to provide torque to drive the vehicle (100); energy storage means (150) operable to store electrical energy generated by generator means (123) for driving the electric motor means (123); and energy management means (140) for controlling the engine (121) and electric motor means (123) to provide torque to drive the vehicle and for controlling the generator means to generate electrical energy for storage in the energy storage means, wherein the vehicle comprises control means operable to monitor a value of one or more parameters associated with the vehicle, the control means being arranged automatically to identify a current driving style of a driver ranging from an economy-oriented driving style to a performance-oriented driving style responsive to the value of the one or more parameters, the energy management means being operable to control the engine, electric motor means and generator means responsive to the driving style of the user.