Powertrain for hybrid vehicle having dedicated EGR

A powertrain for a vehicle having both an internal combustion engine and a generator, the engine equipped with a dedicated EGR loop, comprising:

• an engine crankshaft;
• at least one cylinder configured as a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder, such that all exhaust of that cylinder is recirculated to the fresh air intake of the engine;
• one or more cylinders configured as main cylinders, such that exhaust from the main cylinders exits the engine to atmosphere;
• wherein the dedicated EGR cylinder is mechanically decoupled from the crankshaft and is mechanically connected to power the generator;
• and
• wherein the main cylinders are operable exclusively to provide power to the crankshaft.

A powertrain for a vehicle having both an internal combustion engine and a generator, the engine equipped with a dedicated EGR loop, comprising:

• an engine crankshaft;
• at least one cylinder configured as a dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cylinder, such that all exhaust from the EGR cylinder is recirculated to the fresh air intake of the engine;
• one or more cylinders configured as main cylinders, such that exhaust from the main cylinders exits the engine to the atmosphere;
• wherein the dedicated EGR cylinder is coupled to the crankshaft by means of a clutch such that it may be mechanically decoupled from the crankshaft and mechanically connected to power the generator;
• and
• wherein the main cylinders are operable exclusively to provide power to the crankshaft.

A powertrain for a vehicle having both an internal combustion engine and a generator, the engine equipped with a dedicated EGR loop and an exhaust system, the powertrain comprising:

• an engine crankshaft;
• a number of cylinders;
• wherein each of the number of cylinders is mechanically connected to the crankshaft by means of an associated clutch;
• wherein each of the number of cylinders has dual exhaust ports, one port connected to the EGR loop and one port connected to the exhaust system;
• wherein each of the associated clutches is operable to couple its associated cylinder to the generator such that each of the number of cylinders is operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder with all exhaust of that cylinder directed to the EGR loop;
• wherein each of the associated clutches is alternatively operable to couple its associated cylinder to the crankshaft such that each of the number of cylinders operates as a main cylinder with all exhaust from that cylinder exiting the engine via the exhaust system.