Patent ID: 7775310
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: B60K,B60W,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle including at least an engine having a plurality of combustion cylinders, wherein the engine is configured to deactivate at least one combustion cylinder, wherein the engine is mechanically coupled to at least a drive wheel of the vehicle; an energy conversion device mechanically coupled to at least one of the engine and the vehicle drive wheel; and an energy storage device coupled to the energy conversion device, the method comprising: varying a number of deactivated combustion cylinders; adjusting at least one of the engine and the energy conversion device so that an amount of energy stored by the energy storage device varies within a first range when the engine is operating with a first number of deactivated combustion cylinders and varies within a second range when the engine is operating with a second number of deactivated combustion cylinders, wherein the first range is different from the second range; and adjusting at least one of the first range and the second range in response to energy supplied to the energy storage device during a regenerative braking operation, the energy conversion device further configured to provide the regenerative braking of the vehicle by converting energy received from the drive wheel into energy storable by the energy storage device.