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Methods and systems are provided for raising the speed of a hybrid electric vehicle operating in an electric-only mode. During conditions when the vehicle is driven only by an electric motor, vehicle speed may be raised by spinning the engine unfueled using power from a system battery, while adjusti

Methods and systems are provided for raising the speed of a hybrid electric vehicle operating in an electric-only mode. During conditions when the vehicle is driven only by an electric motor, vehicle speed may be raised by spinning the engine unfueled using power from a system battery, while adjusting valve operation to reduce engine pumping losses. In this way, vehicle speed may be raised more efficiently and without damaging rotating transmission components.

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1. A method of operating a hybrid vehicle system, comprising: during an engine-off mode with only an electric motor driving a wheel of the vehicle, raising vehicle speed while decreasing or maintaining a rotational speed of a rotating planetary gear transmission component by raising speed of the whe

1. A method of operating a hybrid vehicle system, comprising: during an engine-off mode with only an electric motor driving a wheel of the vehicle, raising vehicle speed while decreasing or maintaining a rotational speed of a rotating planetary gear transmission component by raising speed of the wheel by providing a drive force from the electric motor to the wheel while increasing speed of an unfueled engine coupled to the wheel via the planetary transmission; andadjusting a cylinder valve operation based on the engine speed. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cylinder valve is an intake valve. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the cylinder valve is an exhaust valve. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting a cylinder valve operation includes adjusting a valve timing. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting a cylinder valve operation includes adjusting valve lift. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting a cylinder valve operation includes adjusting duration of opening of the valve. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting a cylinder valve operation includes adjusting an amount of valve overlap. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cylinder valve is a cam-actuated valve. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting cylinder valve operation includes generating lower air flow through the spinning unfueled engine. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the hybrid vehicle system further includes a battery electrically coupled to a generator. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein increasing the speed of the unfueled engine includes spinning the engine unfueled using the battery via the generator. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the engine speed is increased in proportion to the raising of the vehicle speed above a threshold vehicle speed. 13. A method of operating a vehicle system, comprising: during an electric-only mode of operation, raising vehicle speed above a threshold vehicle speed, while spinning an engine coupled to a driven wheel unfueled using a battery, by providing a drive force to the driven wheel from a motor coupled to the wheel; andadjusting a cylinder intake valve timing to reduce airflow through the spinning engine. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein adjusting the cylinder intake valve timing includes adjusting a cam phaser coupled to the intake valve. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the adjusting includes positioning the cam phaser after engine speed is above a threshold engine speed. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, during an engine-on mode of operation immediately following the electric-only mode of operation, repositioning the cam phaser to increase airflow through the spinning engine; andreturning fuel and spark to the already spinning engine to further increase the vehicle speed and an engine output. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein spinning the engine unfueled includes spinning the engine faster until engine speed is at the threshold engine speed, and spinning the engine slower after the engine speed is at the threshold engine speed. 18. A method of operating a vehicle system, comprising: during an electric-only mode of operation: raising vehicle speed above a threshold vehicle speed, while spinning an engine coupled to a driven wheel unfueled using a battery, by providing a drive force to the driven wheel from a motor coupled to the wheel and adjusting a cylinder intake valve timing to reduce airflow through the spinning engine; andadjusting the cylinder intake valve to increase airflow through the spinning engine in response to a request to restart the engine. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein adjusting the cylinder intake valve timing includes adjusting a cam phaser coupled to the intake valve.