Output torque management in a vehicle having an electric powertrain

A vehicle comprising:

• an electrical storage system (ESS);
• a traction motor energized using battery power from the ESS;
• a transmission having an output member, wherein the output member is driven via the traction motor;
• and
• a controller configured for:
• detecting a threshold increase in output torque capability of the transmission;
• and
• automatically limiting the rate of change of an actual output torque from the transmission in response to the threshold increase.

A method for managing a threshold increase in output torque capability in a vehicle, the method comprising:

• detecting the threshold increase in output torque capability using a controller, including evaluating a difference between a current value of an actual output torque and an average of a calibrated number of prior values of the actual output torque;
• and
• using the controller to automatically limit, in response to the threshold increase, a rate of change of an actual output torque from a transmission of the vehicle, including referencing a lookup table indexed by battery power from an energy storage system;
• wherein the actual output torque is provided via a traction motor solely using the battery power.