Patent ID: 8818594
Filing Date: 2014-08-26
Classification: B60K,B60W,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, a fuel tank and a regenerable filter device that absorbs fuel vapors from the fuel tank of the internal combustion engine, the method comprising: defining a range of speeds of the vehicle at which noise associated with operating the internal combustion engine is not accoustically objectionable; driving the vehicle exclusively by the electric machine in a purely electric driving mode while keeping the internal combustion engine switched off; absorbing fuel vapors from the fuel tank in the regenerable filter device while operating the vehicle in the purely electric driving mode; measuring a charge state of the regenerable filter device; measuring vehicle speed while driving the vehicle in the purely electric driving mode; and switching on the internal combustion engine for rinsing the regenerable filter device and combusting the fuel vapors absorbed therein if the charge state of the regenerable filter device is above a desired low level and the speed of the vehicle is in the defined range of speeds at which noise associated with operating the internal combustion engine is not accoustically objectionable.