Patent ID: 6988572
Filing Date: 2006-01-24
Classification: B60K,B60W,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine, and a motor being capable of generating electrical power as power sources; an output shaft to which a driving power from at least one of the engine and the motor is transmitted for driving the vehicle in an engine cruise mode in which the vehicle is driven by the engine, or in a motor cruise mode in which the vehicle is driven by the motor; a clutch section which is provided between the engine and motor and a pair of axle shafts, and which is adapted to selectively disconnect the driving powers of the engine and the motor; and a control section which is adapted to control the clutch section, when the driving mode of the vehicle is switched between the engine cruise mode and the motor cruise mode alternately, so that the engagement degree of the clutch section is once decreased at switching, and then the decreased engagement degree of the clutch section is gradually increased and recovered, wherein the control section is further adapted to control the engine so as to deactivate at least one of the cylinders of the engine during the motor cruise mode, and wherein the control section is further adapted to control the driving power of the motor, when the driving mode of the vehicle is switched from the engine cruise mode to the motor cruise mode, so as to compensate for chances in the friction of the engine due to the cylinder deactivation operation.