Hybrid electric vehicle

A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

• two or more drive wheels receiving torque for propelling said vehicle from an output shaft, and a power unit supplying drive torque to said output shaft, said power unit comprising:
• a controllable torque transfer unit adapted to receive torque from two sources and transfer said torque to said output shaft;
• an engine adapted to consume combustible fuel and supply torque to said torque transfer unit;
• an electric motor adapted to receive electricity from a battery and supply torque to said torque transfer unit, said motor also being adapted to be operable as a generator;
• a battery for supply of stored electric energy to said motor, and for receiving and storing electric energy from said motor when operated as a generator;
• and
• a controller for controlling the operation of such engine, said electric motor, and said torque transfer unit such that said torque transfer unit receives torque from either or both of said internal combustion engine and said electric motor and transmits and for controlling the relative contributions of the internal combustion engine and electric motor to the torque driving the wheels, and
• wherein said battery provides a maximum current of no more than about 75 amperes at a voltage selected responsive to the characteristics of said motor.

A hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

• two or more drive wheels receiving torque for propelling said vehicle from an output shaft, and a power unit supplying drive torque to said output shaft, said power unit comprising:
• a controllable torque transfer unit adapted to receive torque from two sources and transfer said torque to said output shaft;
• an engine adapted to consume combustible fuel and supply torque to said torque transfer unit;
• an AC electric motor adapted to receive electric energy from a battery and supply torque to said torque transfer unit, said motor being further adapted to be operable as a generator;
• a battery for supply of stored electric energy to said motor, and for receiving and storing electric energy from said motor when operated as a generator;
• solid state switching means for converting DC supplied by said battery to AC for supply to said electric motor, and for rectifying AC generated by said motor when operated in a regenerative mode to provide DC to charge said battery;
• and
• a controller for controlling the operation of said engine, said electric motor, said solid state switching means, and said torque transfer unit, such that said torque transfer unit receives torque from either or both of said internal combustion engine and said electric motor and transmits torque therefrom to said drive wheels by way of said output shaft, and for controlling the relative contributions of the internal combustion engine and electric motor to the torque driving the wheels.

A hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

• two or more drive wheels receiving torque for propelling said vehicle from an output shaft, and a power unit supplying drive torque to said output shaft, said power unit comprising:
• a controllable torque transfer unit adapted to receive torque from two sources and transfer said torque to said output shaft;
• an engine adapted to consume combustible fuel and supply torque to said torque transfer unit;
• an electric motor adapted to receive electricity from a battery and supply torque to said torque transfer unit, said motor being further adapted to be operated as a generator;
• a battery for supply of stored electric energy to said motor, and for receiving and storing electric energy from said motor when operated as a generator;
• and
• a controller for controlling the operation of said engine, said electric motor, and said torque transfer unit such that said torque transfer unit receives torque from either or both of said internal combustion engine and said electric motor and transmits torque therefrom to said drive wheels by way of said output shaft, and for controlling the relative contributions of the internal combustion engine and electric motor to the torque driving the wheels;
• wherein said electric motor produces maximum power at a level at least equal to 100% of the maximum power of said internal combustion engine.

A method of operating a hybrid electric vehicle, said vehicle comprising:

• a controllable torque transfer unit, operable to transfer torque in three modes (a) from either or both of two input shafts to an output member, said output member transmitting torque to drive wheels of said vehicle;
• (b) between said input shafts;
• and (c) from said output member to one or both of said input shafts;
• an electric motor adapted to apply torque to a first of said input shafts responsive to supplied electrical energy, said motor being further operable in a generator mode, to provide electrical energy when driven by torque transferred thereto via said first input shaft;
• a combustible-fuel-burning internal combustion engine adapted to apply torque to a second of said input shafts;
• a battery adapted to supply electrical energy to and store energy received from said electric motor;
• and
• a controller adapted to receive input commands from a driver of said vehicle to monitor operation of said vehicle and to control operation of said controllable torque transfer unit, said motor, and said internal combustion engine, said method comprising the following steps:
• selecting an appropriate mode of operation of said vehicle from the following possible modes of operation:
• low speed running;
• steady state running;
• acceleration or hill climbing;
• battery charging;
• braking;
• and
• engine starting;
• selecting the appropriate flow paths of electrical energy and/or combustible fuel and of torque to effectuate the selected mode of operation;
• and
• controlling operation of said controllable torque transfer unit, said electric motor and said internal combustion engine in accordance with said selected appropriate flow paths.

A hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

• a controllable torque transfer unit, operable to transfer torque in three modes:
• (a) from either or both of two input shafts to an output member, said output member transmitting torque to drive wheels of said vehicle;
• (b) between said input shafts;
• and (c) from said output member to one or both of said input shafts;
• an electric motor adapted to apply torque to a first of said input shafts responsive to supplied electrical energy, said motor further being operable in a generator mode, to provide electrical energy when driven by torque transferred thereto via said first input shaft;
• a combustible-fuel-burning internal combustion engine adapted to apply torque to a second of said input shafts;
• a battery adapted to supply electrical energy to and store energy received from said electric motor;
• and
• a controller adapted to receive input commands from a driver of said vehicle to monitor operation of said vehicle and to control operation of said controllable torque transfer unit, said motor, and said internal combustion engine, wherein said controller comprises means for performing the following functions responsive to input commands and monitored operation of said vehicle:
• selecting an appropriate mode of operation of said vehicle from at least the following possible modes of operation:
• low speed running;
• steady state running;
• acceleration or hill climbing;
• battery charging;
• braking;
• and
• engine starting;
• selecting the appropriate flow paths of electrical energy and/or combustible fuel and of torque to effectuate the selected mode of operation;
• and
• controlling operation of said controllable torque transfer unit, said electric motor and said internal combustion engine in accordance with said selected appropriate flow paths and selected mode of operation.