Systems and methods for controlling operation of a vehicle

1. A system for controlling operational modes of a hybrid electric vehicle, the system comprising:

a rechargeable energy storage system coupled to an electrical motor for powering the vehicle;

a range-extending engine coupled to a generator for providing power for driving the electric motor; and

a controller operable by a user to select an operational mode of the vehicle from among a plurality of operational modes including at least a first mode and a second mode;

wherein the first mode is selectable only if an all-electric range of the vehicle is less than a predetermined value;

wherein the range-extending engine is enabled in response to selection of the first mode by the controller.

2. A method of controlling operational modes of a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether an all-electric range (AER) of the vehicle is at or less than a first predetermined value;

activating a first operational mode if the AER is determined to be at or less than the first predetermined value;

determining, while the first operational mode is active, whether the AER of the vehicle is greater than a second predetermined value; and

activating a second operational mode if the AER is determined to be greater than the second predetermined value; and

providing a first indication to a user of the vehicle that the AER is less than the first predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, while in the first operational mode, an energy storage device of the vehicle is recharged to increase the AER of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

maintaining the vehicle in the first operational mode if the AER is determined to be at or less than the second predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining whether the AER of the vehicle is at or less than the first predetermined value occurs while in the second operational mode.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

maintaining the vehicle in the second operational mode if the AER is determined to be greater than the first predetermined value.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving a request to activate the first operational mode;

wherein the first operational mode is activated in response to receiving the request.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving a request to activate the first operation mode;

wherein the first operational mode is activated in response to receiving the request after the first indication is provided.

9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

providing a second indication to the user of the vehicle that the AER is at or less than a third predetermined value that is less than the first predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

activating a third mode for reducing performance of the vehicle relative to the second operational mode if the AER is at or less than the third predetermined value.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first predetermined value is a same value as the second predetermined value.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first predetermined value is a different value from the second predetermined value.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein an engine of the vehicle is prevented from powering the vehicle in the second operational mode.

14. The method of claim 2 , wherein an engine of the vehicle is only allowed to power the vehicle in the first operational mode.

15. The method of claim 2 , wherein activating the first operational mode comprises activating an engine of the vehicle to power the vehicle while in the first operational mode.

16. A method of controlling operational modes of a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a request to activate a first operational mode of the vehicle via an actuator;

determining, in response to receiving the request, whether an all-electric range (AER) of the vehicle is less than a first predetermined value;

activating the first operational mode if the AER is less than the first predetermined value and preventing activation of the first operational mode if the AER is not less than the first predetermined value;

determining, while in the first operational mode, if an energy storage device of the vehicle has been recharged such that the AER is above a second predetermined value;

maintaining the vehicle in the first operational mode if the energy storage device has not been recharged such that the AER is above the second predetermined value; and

activating a second operational mode if the energy storage device has been recharged such that the AER is above the second predetermined value.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the request is received while operating in the second operational mode.