| CPC F02D 27/00 (2013.01) [F01L 1/34 (2013.01); F01L 1/344 (2013.01); F02D 13/0215 (2013.01); F02N 11/0859 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |

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1. A method of operating an internal combustion engine operating according to a four-stroke combustion cycle to move a vehicle in a reverse direction, the internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber defined by an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a piston, the method comprising:
rotating the internal combustion engine in a first rotational direction via combustion events occurring within the combustion chamber via: i) a first intake valve timing of the intake valve relative to a firing engine combustion cycle, and ii) a first exhaust valve timing of the exhaust valve relative to the firing engine combustion cycle;
commencing shutdown of the internal combustion engine;
adjusting at least one of:
an intake valve timing from the first intake valve timing to a second intake valve timing relative to the firing engine combustion cycle so as to decrease a rotational resistance of the internal combustion engine; or
an exhaust valve timing from the first exhaust valve timing to a second exhaust valve timing relative to the firing engine combustion cycle so as to decrease a rotational resistance of the internal combustion engine; and
rotating the internal combustion engine in a second rotational direction via an electric machine so that the vehicle moves in a reverse direction.
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