Control system and method for a vehicle

A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:

• at a drive system control unit of the vehicle, controlling an electric drive system associated with at least a first set of wheels of the vehicle to selectively provide electric motive power to the at least the first set of wheels to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle;
• at the drive system control unit, determining a torque level needed to move the vehicle from stop to up an inclined grade;
• and
• at the drive system control unit, responsive to an input from an operator control for the vehicle to move up the grade, communicating with a friction brake control unit of the vehicle to remove a friction brake application that holds the vehicle stopped and concurrently controlling the electric drive system of the vehicle to provide the electric motive power according to the torque level that is determined, for the vehicle to move from stop to up the inclined grade without substantial vehicle rollback.

A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:

• at a drive system control unit of the vehicle, controlling an electric drive system associated with at least a first set of wheels of the vehicle to selectively provide electric motive power to the at least the first set of wheels to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle;
• at the drive system control unit, determining a force needed to hold the vehicle on an inclined grade on which the vehicle is positioned;
• and
• at the drive system control unit, communicating with a friction brake control unit of the vehicle to decrease or increase an amount of friction brake application applied to at least one of the first set of wheels or a second set of wheels of the vehicle, in dependence at least in part upon the force that is determined to hold the vehicle on the inclined grade.