Patent ID: 7104347
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: B60H,B60K,B60L,B60T,B60W,B60Y,F01N,F02B,F02D,F02M,F02N,H01M,Y02A,Y02E,Y02T,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine controllably coupled to road wheels of said vehicle; a first electric motor connected to said engine nd operable to start the engine responsive to a control signal; a second electric motor connected to road wheels of said vehicle, and operable as a motor, to apply torque to said wheels to propel said vehicle, and as a generator, for accepting torque from at least said wheels for generating current; a battery, for providing current to said motors and accepting charging current from at least said second motor; and a controller for controlling the flow of electrical and mechanical power between said engine, first and second motors, and wheels, wherein said controller starts and operates said engine when torque require to be produced by said engine to propel the vehicle and/or to drive either one or both said electric motor(s) to charge said battery is at least equal to a setpoint (SP) above which said engine torque is efficiently produced, and wherein the torque produced by said engine when operated at said setpoint (SP) is substantially less than the maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine.