Hybridizing automotive drivetrains, or using more than one type of energy converter, is considered an important step to high fuel economy. The design space for hybrid-electric vehicles, which includes conventional and pure electric vehicles as special cases in the extremes, is vast and growing. To fully realize the potential afforded these technologies requires a complete vehicle systems approach for component selection and optimization over typical driving situations. The control problems that arise in connection with hybrid powertrains pose significant new challenges to powertrain control engineers. One aim of this presentation is to give an overview of control problems pertaining specifically to hybrid vehicles. In an effort to further research and graduate education in the area of hybrid vehicles, the Department of Energy Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies has recently established a number of Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) Centers focused on various aspects of hybrid vehicle design. A second aim of this presentation is to discuss the role of these Centers as enablers to foster relationships between industry and universities.