US Patent 10337432 Vehicle and method of controlling a vehicle

A vehicle and method for controlling a vehicle having a variable displacement engine with an auxiliary machine connected directly to the engine crankshaft and to an energy storage device includes switching from a cylinder disablement (VDE) mode to a normal mode when the torque demand and engine speed lie outside an outer range defined by a first threshold (Tout), and switching from the normal mode to the VDE mode when the torque demand and engine speed lie within an inner range, which lies within the outer range and defined by a second threshold (Tin). When operating in a band between the two thresholds, the auxiliary machine draws energy from the energy storage device and supplements the output torque from the engine if operating in the VDE mode, and derives torque from the engine crankshaft to recharge the energy storage device if operating in the normal mode.