Systems and methods for using an electric motor in predictive and automatic engine stop-start systems

A method of stopping and restarting an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• monitoring, by a vehicle electronic control unit (VECU), environment signals from one or more environmental sensors of the vehicle and vehicle state signals from one or more vehicle state sensors of the vehicle;
• in response to determining that the environment signals and the vehicle state signals indicate a set of conditions for stopping the internal combustion engine are met, transmitting, by the VECU, a signal to cause the internal combustion engine to stop;
• monitoring, by the VECU, the environment signals and the vehicle state signals to predict a time when power will be needed from the internal combustion engine;
• and
• transmitting, by the VECU, a signal to an electric motor coupled to an accessory drive to cause the electric motor to restart the internal combustion engine based on the predicted time when power will be needed.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, in response to execution by a vehicle electronic control unit (VECU) of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, cause the VECU to perform actions comprising:

• monitoring environment signals from one or more environmental sensors of the vehicle and vehicle state signals from one or more vehicle state sensors of the vehicle;
• in response to determining that the environment signals and the vehicle state signals indicate a set of conditions for stopping the internal combustion engine are met, transmitting a signal to cause the internal combustion engine to stop;
• monitoring the environment signals and the vehicle state signals to predict a time when power will be needed from the internal combustion engine;
• and
• transmitting a signal to an electric motor coupled to an accessory drive to cause the electric motor to restart the internal combustion engine based on the predicted time when power will be needed.