Method and system for controlling a hybrid vehicle

A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including a hybrid powertrain, the hybrid powertrain including an energy storage system, a driveline, an internal combustion engine, and an electric machine electrically connected to the energy storage system, the method comprising:

• monitoring, via a controller, a magnitude and a direction of a lateral acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, a magnitude and a direction of a longitudinal acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, and a magnitude and a direction of a longitudinal deceleration of the hybrid vehicle;
• determining, via the controller, vehicle operating conditions in which the hybrid powertrain is allowed to operate in a regenerative state based, at least in part, on the magnitude and the direction of the lateral acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, the magnitude and the direction of the longitudinal acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, and the magnitude and the direction of the longitudinal deceleration of the hybrid vehicle, wherein, when the hybrid powertrain operates in the regenerative state, torque is transferred from the driveline to the electric machine, the electric machine operates as a generator in order to convert kinetic energy received from the driveline into electric energy, and the electric machine transmits the electric energy to the energy storage system;
• commanding, via the controller, the hybrid powertrain to operate in the regenerative state when the hybrid vehicle is operating under the determined vehicle operating conditions;
• and
• wherein determining vehicle operating conditions in which the hybrid powertrain is allowed to operate in the regenerative state is based, at least in part, on a vehicle operating mode selected by a vehicle operator;
• and
• wherein the vehicle operating mode is selected from a group consisting of a quick charge mode, a charge deplete mode, and a track mode.