Patent ID: 8062175

Claim:
A method of optimizing braking in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) having a plurality of drive wheels, a friction braking system having antilock braking system (ABS) capability, and an electronically variable transmission (EVT) having a low speed/high torque EVT mode and at least one high speed/low torque EVT mode, the method comprising: detecting an active ABS braking event corresponding to an activation of the ABS capability; determining a present deceleration rate of the HEV; comparing the present deceleration rate to a calibrated maximum deceleration rate; and executing a control action when the active ABS braking event is detected and when the present deceleration rate has a magnitude that is less than a magnitude of the calibrated maximum deceleration rate; wherein said control action is one of an automatically shifting of the EVT to the at least one high speed/low torque EVT mode and a retaining of the at least one high speed/low torque EVT mode for a duration of the active ABS braking event.