Series hybrid engine control with gear emulation

Abstract

A control system that control speed of an internal combustion engine (ICE) in a series hybrid vehicle includes an accelerator pedal, a vehicle speed sensor and a controller. The accelerator pedal sends a torque request signal. The vehicle speed sensor sends a vehicle speed signal. The controller receives the torque request signal and the vehicle speed signal. The controller is configured to determine, based on the torque request and vehicle speed signals, a plurality of allowed emulated gear ratios; calculate an engine speed for each allowed emulated gear ratio; determine a most efficient engine torque for the calculated engine speeds of each allowed emulated gear ratio; select a desired emulated gear ratio having a most efficient operating point from the plurality of allowed emulated gear ratios; and control the ICE to operate at a corresponding engine speed associated with the desired emulated gear ratio.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.