Patent ID: 8387730

Claim:
A method for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor generating a driving torque, the driving torque being coupled through an automatic transmission to deliver the driving torque to at least one vehicle drive wheel of the hybrid vehicle to cause acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, the method comprising: coupling the engine to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thereby causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed over a motor deceleration time period in response to receiving a control signal from a controller; and during said motor deceleration time period, producing a shift signal at the controller to cause the automatic transmission to upshift gear ratio to a target gear ratio that is operable to continue to deliver the driving torque at said reduced rotational speed of the motor thereby maintaining the acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, the motor being operable at said reduced rotational speed to generate increased torque to provide a starting torque for starting the engine while continuing to deliver the driving torque.