Patent ID: 6524217
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: B60K,B60W,F16H,Y02T,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A control apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle having drive wheels, an internal combustion engine provided as one drive unit for driving the vehicle, a starter motor for starting said internal combustion engine, a clutch device which is released to substantially disconnect a power transmitting path between said drive wheels and said internal combustion engine, and another drive unit operatively connected to drive wheels, said control apparatus comprising:first engine-starting means for placing said clutch device in a released state thereof and activating said starter motor to start said internal combustion engine, when the vehicle is running in a running condition in which said internal combustion engine cannot be started with a kinetic energy of the vehicle while said clutch device is placed in an engaged state thereof; and second engine-starting means for placing said clutch device in said engaged state, to start said internal combustion engine with said kinetic energy of the vehicle, when the vehicle is running in a running condition in which said internal combustion engine can be started with said kinetic energy with said clutch device held in said engaged state.