Vehicle race launch systems
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes an internal combustion engine, an electric traction motor, a motor/generator, and a transmission. A launch control system includes a controller having one or more processors programmed to (A) operate the HEV in a vehicle launch preparation phase while the HEV is at a standstill, including (i) commanding the internal combustion engine to an engine speed launch target, (ii) performing a spark retardation on the internal combustion engine to limit wheel torque and generate an engine airflow torque reserve, and (iii) commanding zero torque to the electric traction motor; and (B) operate the HEV in a vehicle launch phase, including (i) reducing or removing the spark retardation, and (ii) commanding the electric traction motor to operate at a predetermined torque, to thereby utilize the engine airflow torque reserve in combination with the electric traction motor to provide increased vehicle acceleration.
1 . A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), comprising:
an internal combustion engine;
an electric traction motor;
a motor/generator configured to start the internal combustion engine;
a transmission; and
a launch control system including a controller having one or more processors, the controller programmed to:
operate the HEV in a vehicle launch preparation phase while the HEV is at a standstill, including (i) commanding the internal combustion engine to an engine speed launch target, (ii) performing a spark retardation on the internal combustion engine to limit wheel torque and generate an engine airflow torque reserve, and (iii) commanding zero torque to the electric traction motor; and
operate the HEV in a vehicle launch phase, including (i) reducing or removing the spark retardation, and (ii) commanding the electric traction motor to operate at a predetermined torque, to thereby utilize the engine airflow torque reserve in combination with the electric traction motor to provide increased vehicle acceleration.
2 . The HEV of claim 1 , wherein the engine speed launch target provides an engine flywheel torque at a level which the controller can perform engine speed control using slip control of a clutch of the transmission.
3 . The HEV of claim 1 , wherein the controller initiates the launch preparation phase when a user presses both a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal.
4 . The HEV of claim 3 , wherein the controller initiates the launch preparation phase when a user presses both the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal and further holds a paddle shifter.
5 . The HEV of claim 3 , wherein the controller subsequently initiates the launch phase when the brake pedal is released.
6 . The HEV of claim 3 , wherein the controller aborts the launch preparation phase if the accelerator pedal is released during the launch preparation phase.
7 . The HEV of claim 1 , wherein the transmission is a hybrid dual clutch transmission.
8 . The HEV of claim 7 , wherein the transmission includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a first sub-transmission, and a second sub-transmission.
9 . The HEV of claim 8 , wherein the first sub-transmission includes odd gears, and the second sub-transmission includes even gears.
10 . A method of operating a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) having an internal combustion engine, an electric traction motor, a motor/generator, and a transmission, the method comprising:
operating, by a controller having one or more processors, the HEV in a vehicle launch preparation phase while the HEV is at a standstill, including (i) commanding the internal combustion engine to an engine speed launch target, (ii) performing a spark retardation on the internal combustion engine to limit wheel torque and generate an engine airflow torque reserve, and (iii) commanding zero torque to the electric traction motor; and
operating, by the controller, the HEV in a vehicle launch phase, including (i) reducing or removing the spark retardation, and (ii) commanding the electric traction motor to operate at a predetermined torque, to thereby utilize the engine airflow torque reserve in combination with the electric traction motor to provide increased vehicle acceleration.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the engine speed launch target provides an engine flywheel torque at a level which the controller can perform engine speed control using slip control of a clutch of the transmission.
12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising initiating, by the controller, the launch preparation phase when a user presses both a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising initiating the launch preparation phase, by the controller, when a user presses both the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal and further holds a paddle shifter.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising initiating, by the controller, the launch phase when the brake pedal is released.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising aborting the launch preparation phase, by the controller, if the accelerator pedal is released during the launch preparation phase.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the transmission is a hybrid dual clutch transmission.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the transmission includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a first sub-transmission, and a second sub-transmission.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first sub-transmission includes odd gears, and the second sub-transmission includes even gears.