Vehicle coasting control system and method

A vehicle coasting control system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle prime mover configured to convey the vehicle at speeds within a speed range of the vehicle;
• an accelerator pedal positional throughout an accelerator pedal position range, the accelerator pedal interfacing with a vehicle controller, said vehicle controller configured to detect a position of accelerator pedal depression greater than zero within the accelerator pedal position range and transmit the detected position to the vehicle controller;
• the vehicle controller further interfacing with the vehicle prime mover, the vehicle controller comprising memory storing computer program instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the computer program instructions, the at least one processor configured to control operating speeds of the prime mover of the vehicle in response to respectively detected accelerator pedal positions;
• the vehicle controller further configured to operate the prime mover at idle when the accelerator pedal is positioned at a coast zone within the accelerator pedal position range, said idle comprising applying zero torque to wheels of the vehicle, said coast zone comprising only pedal positions of the accelerator pedal between a minimum pedal position and a maximum pedal position within the accelerator pedal position range, said coast zone and said accelerator pedal position range predetermined by the controller;
• and,
• the at least one processor further configured to operate the prime mover to apply torque to wheels of the vehicle in response to a determination by the controller that the accelerator pedal is not positioned at the coast zone but is positioned between the minimum pedal position and the maximum pedal position.

A vehicle coasting control system for a vehicle comprising:

• a prime mover of the vehicle;
• a speed control input device interfacing with a vehicle controller, the vehicle controller interfacing with the prime mover, said vehicle controller configured to detect a speed control input device position greater than zero including a coast speed control input position and transmit the detected position to the vehicle controller;
• wherein the vehicle controller comprises memory storing computer program instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the computer program instructions, the at least one processor is configured to operate the prime mover at idle when the speed control input device indicates a coast speed control input position value, said idle comprising applying zero torque to wheels of the vehicle, said coast speed control input position value comprising only speed control input position values between a minimum vehicle speed control input value and a maximum vehicle speed control input value, said coast speed control input position value and said minimum and maximum vehicle speed control input values predetermined by the controller;
• and,
• the at least one processor further configured to operate the prime mover to apply torque to wheels of the vehicle in response to a determination by the controller that the speed control input device indicates a vehicle speed control input position value other than the coast speed control input position values between the minimum and maximum vehicle speed control input values.