System and method for controlling a powertrain system of a vehicle

A computer system for controlling a powertrain system of a vehicle, the powertrain system comprising an internal combustion engine connectable to one or more drive wheels, the computer system comprising processing circuitry configured to selectively operate the powertrain system in a number of operational modes comprising at least a freewheeling mode, in which an output shaft of the engine is non-rotating and the engine is disconnected from the one or more drive wheels,

• wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
• determine an opportunity for the freewheeling mode by predicting a feasibility of restarting the engine along an intended route by using a controllable clutch;
• wherein predicting the feasibility of restarting the engine by using the controllable clutch comprises determining a fulfillment of any one of a first restarting condition and a second restarting condition;
• wherein determining fulfillment of the first restarting condition comprises comparing a current total weight of the vehicle with a threshold value indicative of a minimum total weight for avoiding excessive braking of the vehicle during restarting at a high friction road condition with a given total gear ratio, wherein determining fulfillment of the second restarting condition comprises comparing a current drive axle load with a corresponding threshold value indicative of a minimum drive axle load on a drive axle for avoiding excessive wheel slip during restarting at a low friction road condition with a given total gear ratio;
• and
• control the powertrain system into the freewheeling mode upon the determined fulfillment of any one of the first restarting condition and the second restarting condition.