Method of controlling a prime mover of a vehicle, apparatus for controlling a prime mover of a vehicle, and a vehicle comprising such an apparatus

Abstract

Method and apparatus for controlling a prime mover of a first vehicle following a first path. A likely speed behaviour of a second vehicle ahead of the first vehicle is estimated based on a predicted path of the second vehicle. At least one coasting profile for the first vehicle is estimated for at least part of the first path and/or the predicted path. At least one of the coasting profiles is determined that meets at least one predetermined coasting requirement. The prime mover may be controlled to place the vehicle into a coasting mode based on the at least one determined coasting profile. Alternatively, feedback is provided to a user to put the vehicle into a coasting mode. The predetermined coasting requirement may include, for example, a minimum coasting mode period, a minimum coasting mode distance, a minimum coasting mode speed, a maximum coasting mode speed, or maintaining the first vehicle's speed with a predetermined tolerance of one or more desired speeds.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.