System and method for recovering regenerative power in a vehicle, and vehicle using the same

A method for recovering regenerative power in a vehicle when the vehicle is operating in a regenerative mode, the vehicle comprising a first set of vehicle wheels, a second set of vehicle wheels, one or more controllers, an electric machine coupled to the first set of vehicle wheels via a driveline, and a regenerative power source electronically coupled to the electric machine, the method comprising:

• receiving a set of vehicle inputs;
• receiving a set of torque constraint inputs;
• determining, based at least in part on one or more members of the set of vehicle inputs, a target regenerative torque corresponding to the second set of vehicle wheels when the vehicle is operating in the regenerative mode;
• limiting, based at least in part on one or more members of the set of torque constraint inputs, the target regenerative torque to generate a desired regenerative torque corresponding to the second set of vehicle wheels;
• and
• outputting a signal corresponding to the desired regenerative torque to an actuator of a controllable coupling apparatus to controllably couple the second set of vehicle wheels to the electric machine such that regenerative power from the second set of vehicle wheels is recovered by the regenerative power source.

A rear wheel drive hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

• a rear set of vehicle wheels;
• a front set of vehicle wheels;
• one or more controllers;
• an electric machine that performs as a motor in a first mode of operation and performs as a generator in a second mode of operation;
• a regenerative power source electrically coupled to the electric machine, the regenerative power source configured to supply power to the electric machine when the electric machine is in the first mode of operation and to receive power from the electric machine when the electric machine is in the second mode of operation;
• and
• a driveline coupled to the electric machine and the rear set of vehicle wheels for transferring torque between the electric machine and the rear set of vehicle wheels, the driveline including a transfer case in electronic communication with the one or more controllers for selectively coupling, during vehicle deceleration, the electric machine to the front set of vehicle wheels in response to a signal from the one or more controllers.