Constant power control

A system for increasing fuel efficiency of a vehicle comprising:

• an engine configured to convert a fuel into engine power;
• a battery configured to store electrical energy;
• a motor-generator coupled to the battery and configured to convert the electrical energy into motor power;
• an input device configured to receive user input corresponding to a request to operate in a constant power mode;
• at least one sensor configured to detect vehicle data corresponding to a current engine power of the engine;
• a memory configured to store an upper engine power threshold and a lower engine power threshold;
• a speed sensor configured to detect a vehicle speed;
• an auxiliary component configured to utilize at least some of the engine power to generate an output;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the engine, the motor-generator, the input device, the at least one sensor, and the memory and configured to:
• determine the current engine power based on the detected vehicle data,
• control the engine such that the current engine power remains between the upper engine power threshold and the lower engine power threshold when the user input corresponds to the request to operate in the constant power mode, and
• reduce or eliminate the engine power provided to the auxiliary component to allow the reduced or eliminated engine power to be used to increase the vehicle speed when the vehicle speed becomes reduced to or below a lower threshold vehicle speed.

A method for increasing fuel efficiency of a vehicle comprising:

• converting, by a power source, a fuel into power;
• receiving, by an input device, user input corresponding to a request to operate in a constant power mode;
• detecting, by at least one sensor, vehicle data corresponding to a current power of the power source;
• storing, in a memory, an upper power threshold and a lower power threshold;
• determining, by an electronic control unit (ECU), the current power of the power source based on the detected vehicle data;
• controlling, by the ECU, the power source to generate power between the upper power threshold and the lower power threshold when the user input corresponds to the request to operate in the constant power mode;
• detecting, by a speed sensor, a vehicle speed;
• and
• reducing or eliminating, by the ECU, an auxiliary power provided to an auxiliary component when the vehicle speed becomes reduced to or below a lower threshold vehicle speed such that the auxiliary power is used to increase the vehicle speed.