Patent ID: 8116924
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A drive control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, wherein: the hybrid vehicle comprises: an engine which is selectively set in one of a normal fuel-consumption operation mode and a low fuel-consumption operation mode for obtaining lower fuel consumption in comparison with the normal fuel-consumption operation mode; a generator/motor as a first motor selectively used for being driven by the engine and assisting driving of the engine; a motor as a second motor for generating a driving force of the vehicle by electric power supplied by the generator/motor or a battery device; and a clutch provided between the generator/motor and wheels of the vehicle, and the drive control apparatus comprises: a control part for performing a low fuel-consumption driving assistance mode when the engine is set in the low fuel-consumption operation mode, wherein in the low fuel-consumption driving assistance mode: the clutch is connected; and driving of the vehicle is assisted using the generator/motor in accordance with an operation state of the vehicle wherein: when a vehicle speed of the vehicle is lower than a threshold which is determined in consideration of efficiencies of the generator/motor and the motor, the control part performs a low fuel-consumption motor driving-assistance mode in which the motor is selected for assisting the driving of the vehicle, and when the vehicle speed is higher than or equal to the threshold, the control part performs a low fuel-consumption generator/motor driving-assistance mode in which the generator/motor is selected for assisting the driving of the vehicle; and when a required output power of the vehicle is higher than an upper-limit output power threshold which is set based on an amount of remaining power of the battery device, if an amount of remaining power of the battery device is larger than or equal to a threshold for forced charging, the control part performs an E-PASS EV mode in which the generator/motor is driven by the engine, and electric power generated by the generator/motor is supplied to the motor, and if the amount of remaining power of the battery device is less than the threshold for forced charging, the control part performs a CHRGE EV mode in which the generator/motor is driven by the engine, and electric power generated by the generator/motor is supplied to the motor.