Patent ID: 9457797
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: B60K,B60W,G07B,Y02T,Y10S

Claim Text:
1. A powertrain system, comprising: a global position satellite (GPS) module configured to electrically exchange data with an electronic GPS network to obtain GPS coordinates and determine a location of a vehicle operated by the powertrain; an air quality sensor mounted to the vehicle to detect a quality of air based on an ozone level of the local atmosphere and a carbon level of the local atmosphere surrounding the vehicle: a powertrain control module that generates electrical signals to communicate with the sensor and a remotely located municipality module, the municipality module corresponding to the location and having a microcontroller configured to transmit at least one stored powertrain parameter, the powertrain control module configured to compare the detected quality of air to a threshold value, determine at least one current operating condition of the powertrain system, and to select a different operating mode of the powertrain system among a plurality of operating modes based on a comparison between the at least one current operating condition and the at least one stored powertrain parameter, the different operating mode configured to reduce at least one emission exhausted from the vehicle that contributes to a low air quality measured by the air quality sensor; wherein the powertrain control module determines a presence of at least one risk factor indicating a risk of incapacitating a driver of the vehicle in response to disengaging an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, and outputs an electrical control signal that controls a mechanical drive clutch to disengage the engine when the at least one risk factor does not exist, the at least one risk factor selected from a group including risk factors associated with the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle, road conditions, weather, and a distance at which the vehicle is from a battery charging station.