Hybrid vehicles

A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

• operating a first alternating current (AC) electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the hybrid vehicle, comprising:
• providing direct current (DC) from an electrical storage device to be converted to AC by a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter;
• providing the AC to the first AC electric motor to drive the first AC electric motor, said first AC electric motor providing power to a first pair of wheels of the hybrid vehicle;
• starting and operating an engine comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the vehicle and/or drive a second AC electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to generate electric power, comprising providing power to the at least two wheels and/or the second AC electric motor respectively, when the torque required of said engine to thus propel the vehicle and/or drive said second AC electric motor is at least equal to a setpoint value (SP) that is substantially less than the engine's normally-aspirated maximum torque output (MTO);
• converting the generated electric power from AC to DC using a second AC-DC converter;
• storing the converted electric power in the electrical storage device;
• and
• operating a turbocharger coupled to the engine of the hybrid vehicle to increase the power produced by the engine when torque required of the engine to thus propel the vehicle and/or drive said second AC electric motor exceeds MTO for at least a predetermined period of time, and disabling said turbocharger when torque required of the engine to thus propel the vehicle and/or drive said second AC electric motor is less than MTO.

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

• at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle;
• a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle;
• a second AC electric motor;
• an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power, said engine being fitted with a turbocharger operable in response to a control signal to increase the maximum torque output by said engine;
• a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter having an AC side coupled to said first electric motor, operable to accept AC or DC current and convert the current to DC or AC current respectively;
• a second AC-DC converter coupled to said second electric motor, at least operable to accept AC current and convert the current to DC;
• an electrical storage device operable to store energy converted to DC by said AC-DC converters and to provide energy to be converted to AC by at least said first AC-DC converter to power at least said first electric motor;
• and
• a controller, operable to disable or operate the engine;
• said method comprising the steps of monitoring a load signal at least responsive to road load, disabling said turbocharger when said load signal corresponds to a value less than the maximum normally-aspirated power output of said engine and operating said turbocharger to increase the torque output by said engine when said load signal corresponds to a value exceeding the maximum normally-aspirated power output of said engine for at least a predetermined period of time.

A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• operating a first alternating current (AC) electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the hybrid vehicle, comprising:
• providing direct current (DC) from an electrical storage device to be converted to AC by a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter;
• providing the AC to the first AC electric motor to drive the AC electric motor;
• and
• providing power to a first pair of wheels of the hybrid vehicle;
• employing a second AC electric motor driven by an engine of the hybrid vehicle to generate AC electric power;
• converting the generated electric power from AC to DC using a second AC-DC converter;
• storing the converted electric power in the electrical storage device;
• and
• operating a turbocharger coupled to the engine to increase the power produced by the engine when torque required of the engine to propel the vehicle and/or drive said second AC electric motor exceeds the engine's normally-aspirated maximum torque output (MTO) for at least a predetermined period of time, and disabling said turbocharger when torque required of the engine to thus propel the vehicle and/or drive said second AC electric motor is less than MTO.