Patent Description:
Prior art which is related to this field can be found e.g. in document <CIT> disclosing an ecological-point management system, and in document <CIT> disclosing a method and system for tracking alternative fueled based travel in alternative fueled vehicles.

<CIT> (<CIT>) discloses a hybrid vehicle in which at least one of the output of an electric motor and the output of an internal combustion engine is limited when the change in parameter that depends on the quantity of fuel use by the internal combustion engine after external charging of a battery has reached a predetermined value. With this hybrid vehicle, a driver is urged to carry out external charging of the battery by the limitation of at least one of the output of the electric motor and the output of the internal combustion engine when the change in parameter has reached the predetermined value, thereby facilitating the travel of the vehicle not relying on the internal combustion engine. Consequently, the effect of suppressing air pollution can be sufficiently obtained as an electric vehicle while leaving a margin such that the vehicle can travel by the internal combustion engine in an emergency.

With the hybrid vehicle described above, however, only by limiting at least one of the output of the electric motor and the output of the internal combustion engine, there are those instances where the effect of urging the use of external charging is insufficient. For example, for a driver who always drives the vehicle to travel with relatively low power, the effect of the output limitation of the electric motor or the internal combustion engine is small.

The invention provides a hybrid vehicle that can promote use of external charging.

An aspect of the invention relates to a hybrid vehicle according to claim <NUM>. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a fuel tank, a motor, a hybrid electronic control unit (HVECU), a battery, a charger, and a notification mechanism. The fuel tank stores fuel to be supplied to the engine. The battery is configured to supply electric power to the motor. The charger is configured to carry out external charging that charges the battery by use of electric power from an external power source. The notification mechanism is configured to visually notify information on a use index to an outside of the vehicle. The use index is an index for indicating a degree of use of external charging in a predetermined time period. The HVECU is configured to calculate the use index as or based on a ratio of the number of times that the external charging has been carried out in charging chances in which the vehicle is in a state where the external charging is able to be carried out to the number of the charging chances.

According to the invention, the hybrid vehicle visually notifies, to the outside of the vehicle, the information on the use index indicative of the degree of use of external charging in the predetermined time period. Hereby, it is possible to recognize the information on the use index from the outside of the vehicle. As a result, by the recognition from the outside of the vehicle (recognition by people outside the vehicle, a vehicle external system, or the like), a preferential treatment can be easily performed on the vehicle or a penalty can be easily imposed on the vehicle. This makes it possible to urge a user to use the external charging, thereby making it possible to promote the use of external charging. This makes it possible to achieve a reduction in environment load.

Here, as the "predetermined time period," it is possible to use a predetermined time period set in advance in terms of time, such as one month or two months, a period determined in advance in terms of occasion, such as a period during <NUM> trips or a period during <NUM> trips, or the like.

The "use index" indicates a degree of use of external charging in a predetermined time period, and the present specification uses an index indicative of such a relationship that, the greater the use index, the better the use of external charging.

As the preferential treatment and the penalty, there can be cited permission of use of a priority lane or a special-purpose lane on a road including a plurality of lanes, setting of a high toll or a low toll in a toll road, permission of entry to a parking lot or the like, permission of use of a priority parking space or a special-purpose parking space in a parking lot, setting of a high external-charging fee or a low external-charging fee at a battery charging station, and the like.

In the hybrid vehicle, the notification mechanism may be configured to perform notification of the information on the use index by performing at least one of change of color of a part of the hybrid vehicle according to the use index, display of the use index on a part of the hybrid vehicle, display of a message corresponding to the use index on a part of the hybrid vehicle, and change of shape of a part of the hybrid vehicle according to the use index. According to the above configuration, it is possible to recognize the information on the use index from the outside of the vehicle by the change of color, the display of the use index or the message, or the change of shape.

In the hybrid vehicle, when the notification mechanism performs the notification of the information on the use index by performing the change of color of the part of the hybrid vehicle according to the use index, the notification mechanism may be configured perform the notification by performing at least one of change of color of a head lamp, change of color of a back lamp, change of color of a stop lamp, change of color of a turn signal lamp, change of color of an outer rear view mirror assembly, change of color of an exterior door handle assembly, change of color of a letter of a number plate, change of color of a number frame, change of color of an emblem, change of color of a lid, change of color of a back door garnish assembly, and change of color of a letter of a back door name plate. According to the above configuration, it is possible to recognize the information on the use index from the outside of the vehicle by the change of color of each part of the vehicle.

In the hybrid vehicle, when the notification mechanism performs the notification of the information on the use index by performing the display of the use index on the part of the hybrid vehicle and the display of the message corresponding to the use index on the part of the hybrid vehicle, the notification mechanism may be configured to perform the notification by performing at least one of display on the number plate, display on the number frame, display on a vehicle body, display on a bonnet, and display on a door. According to the above configuration, it is possible to recognize the information on the use index from the outside of the vehicle by the display of the use index or the message on each part of the vehicle.

In the hybrid vehicle, when the notification mechanism performs the notification of the information on the use index by performing at least one of the display of the use index on the part of the hybrid vehicle and the display of the message corresponding to the use index on the part of the hybrid vehicle, the notification mechanism may be configured to perform the notification by performing at least one of display on a number plate, display on a number frame, display on a vehicle body, display on a bonnet, and display on a door. According to the above configuration, it is possible to recognize the information on the use index from the outside of the vehicle by the display of the use index or the message on each part of the vehicle.

In the hybrid vehicle, when the notification mechanism performs the notification of the information on the use index by performing the change of shape of the part of the hybrid vehicle according to the use index, the notification mechanism may be configured to perform the notification by performing change of a length of a projecting portion of an antenna from the vehicle body. According to the above configuration, it is possible to recognize the information on the use index from the outside of the vehicle by the change of the length of the projecting portion of the antenna from the vehicle body.

In the hybrid vehicle, the notification mechanism may be configured to notify the information on the use index to an inside of the vehicle as well as the outside of the vehicle. According to the above configuration, it is possible not only to recognize, from the outside of the vehicle, the information on the use index, but also for a driver and other passengers to recognize it.

In the hybrid vehicle, the notification mechanism may be configured to notify the information on the use index when the use index is less than a threshold.

In the hybrid vehicle, when the notification mechanism notifies the information on the use index to the inside of the vehicle, the notification mechanism may be configured to perform at least one of change of color of a steering wheel, change of color of the emblem or a switch provided in the steering wheel, change of color of an instrument panel, display of the use index on a combination meter, and display of the use index on a display of a navigation device.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to embodiments.

<FIG> is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a hybrid vehicle <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated herein, the hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment includes an engine <NUM>, a planetary gear <NUM>, motors MG1 and MG2, inverters <NUM> and <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a charger <NUM>, a navigation device <NUM>, and a hybrid electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as an "HVECU") <NUM>.

The engine <NUM> is configured as an internal combustion engine that uses fuel such as gasoline or diesel fuel from a fuel tank <NUM> to output power. The operation of the engine <NUM> is controlled by an engine electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as an "engine ECU") <NUM>.

Although not shown, the engine ECU <NUM> is configured as a microprocessor including a CPU as its main component and, in addition to the CPU, includes a ROM that stores processing programs, a RAM that temporarily stores data, input and output ports, and a communication port. Signals from various sensors that are necessary for controlling the operation of the engine <NUM>, such as, for example, a crank angle θcr from a crank position sensor <NUM> that detects a rotational position of a crankshaft <NUM> of the engine <NUM>, are input to the engine ECU <NUM> via the input port. Various control signals for controlling the operation of the engine <NUM> are output from the engine ECU <NUM> via the output port. The engine ECU <NUM> is connected to the HVECU <NUM> via the communication port. The engine ECU <NUM> calculates a rotational speed Ne of the engine <NUM> based on the crank angle θcr from the crank position sensor <NUM>.

The planetary gear <NUM> is configured as a single-pinion type planetary gear mechanism. A rotor of the motor MG1 is connected to a sun gear of the planetary gear <NUM>. A drive shaft <NUM> coupled to drive wheels 38a and 38b via a differential gear <NUM> is connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear <NUM>. The crankshaft <NUM> of the engine <NUM> is connected to a carrier of the planetary gear <NUM> via a damper <NUM>.

The motor MG1 is configured as, for example, a synchronous generator motor, and as described above, the rotor of the motor MG1 is connected to the sun gear of the planetary gear <NUM>. The motor MG2 is configured as, for example, a synchronous generator motor, and a rotor of the motor MG2 is connected to the drive shaft <NUM>. The inverters <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the battery <NUM> via electric power line <NUM>. The motors MG1, MG2 are rotationally driven by the inverters <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, when a plurality of switching elements (not shown) of the inverters <NUM>, <NUM> are switching-controlled by a motor electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as a "motor ECU") <NUM>.

Although not shown, the motor ECU <NUM> is configured as a microprocessor including a CPU as its main component and, in addition to the CPU, includes a ROM that stores processing programs, a RAM that temporarily stores data, input and output ports, and a communication port. Signals from various sensors that are necessary for drivingly controlling the motors MG1, MG2, such as, for example, rotational positions θm1, θm2 from rotational position detection sensors <NUM>, <NUM> that respectively detect rotational positions of the rotors of the motors MG1, MG2, are input to the motor ECU <NUM> via the input port. Switching control signals for the plurality of switching elements (not shown) of the inverters <NUM>, <NUM> and so on are output from the motor ECU <NUM> via the output port. The motor ECU <NUM> is connected to the HVECU <NUM> via the communication port. The motor ECU <NUM> calculates rotational speeds Nm1, Nm2 of the motors MG1, MG2 based on the rotational positions θm1, θm2 of the rotors of the motors MG1, MG2 from the rotational position detection sensors <NUM>, <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> is configured as, for example, a lithium-ion secondary battery or a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery. As described above, the battery <NUM> is connected to the inverters <NUM>, <NUM> via the electric power line <NUM>. The battery <NUM> is managed by a battery electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as a "battery ECU") <NUM>.

Although not shown, the battery ECU <NUM> is configured as a microprocessor including a CPU as its main component and, in addition to the CPU, includes a ROM that stores processing programs, a RAM that temporarily stores data, a flash memory, input and output ports, and a communication port. Signals from various sensors that are necessary for managing the battery <NUM>, such as, for example, a battery voltage Vb from a voltage sensor 51a disposed between terminals of the battery <NUM> and a battery current Ib from a current sensor 51b attached to the output terminal of the battery <NUM>, are input to the battery ECU <NUM> via the input port. The battery ECU <NUM> is connected to the HVECU <NUM> via the communication port. The battery ECU <NUM> calculates a state of charge SOC based on an integrated value of the battery current Ib from the current sensor 51b. The state of charge SOC is a ratio of the capacity of electric power, which can be discharged from the battery <NUM>, to the full capacity of the battery <NUM>.

The charger <NUM> is connected to the electric power line <NUM> and configured such that when a power plug <NUM> is connected to an external power source <NUM> such as a household power source or an industrial power source at a battery charging point such as at home or in a battery charging station, it is possible to carry out external charging that charges the battery <NUM> using electric power from the external power source <NUM>.

The navigation device <NUM> includes a body incorporating a control unit having a storage medium such as a hard disk that stores map information and so on, input and output ports, a communication port, and so on, a GPS antenna that receives information on the current position of the vehicle, and a touch-panel display that displays various information such as information on the current position of the vehicle and a travel route to a destination and that allows an operator to input various instructions. Herein, as the map information, service information (e.g., sightseeing information, parking lots, battery charging stations, etc.), road information per travel section determined in advance (e.g., between traffic lights, between intersections, etc.), and so on are stored in a database. The road information includes distance information, width information, area information (urban area, suburban area), type information (general road, expressway), gradient information, legal speed limit, the number of traffic lights, and so on. A parking lot at home and a desired spot can be point-registered as service information. When a destination is set by the operator, the navigation device <NUM> searches for a travel route from a current position of the vehicle to the destination based on the map information, the current position of the vehicle, and the destination and outputs the retrieved travel route to the display to perform route guidance. The navigation device <NUM> also calculates route information in the travel route (e.g. a remaining distance Ln to the destination, a direction Dn of the destination, etc.). The navigation device <NUM> is connected to the HVECU <NUM> via the communication port.

Although not shown, the HVECU <NUM> is configured as a microprocessor including a CPU as its main component and, in addition to the CPU, includes a ROM that stores processing programs, a RAM that temporarily stores data, a flash memory <NUM>, input and output ports, and a communication port. Signals from various sensors are input to the HVECU <NUM> via the input port. As the signals that are input to the HVECU <NUM>, there can be cited, for example, an ignition signal from an ignition switch <NUM>, a shift position SP from a shift position sensor <NUM>, an accelerator opening degree Acc from an accelerator pedal position sensor <NUM>, a brake pedal position BP from a brake pedal position sensor <NUM>, a vehicle speed V from a vehicle speed sensor <NUM>; and the like signals. There can further be cited a fuel quantity Qf from a fuel gauge 25a attached to the fuel tank <NUM>, a connection signal SWC from a connection switch <NUM> that is attached to the power plug <NUM> and determines whether or not the power plug <NUM> is connected to the external power source <NUM>, and so on. Various control signals are output from the HVECU <NUM> via the output port. As the signals that are output from the HVECU <NUM>, there can be cited a control signal to the charger <NUM>, and so on. Further, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, there can be cited display control signals to a vehicle body <NUM>, a bonnet <NUM>, a door <NUM>, a head lamp <NUM>, a back lamp <NUM>, a stop lamp <NUM>, a turn signal lamp <NUM>, an outer rear view mirror assembly <NUM>, an exterior door handle assembly <NUM>, a number plate <NUM>, a number frame <NUM>, a mark emblem <NUM>, a letter emblem <NUM>, a charging inlet lid <NUM>, a refueling lid (not shown), a back door garnish assembly <NUM>, and a back door nameplate <NUM>, a shape change control signal to an antenna <NUM>, and the like signals. Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, there can be also cited display control signals to a steering wheel <NUM>, an instrument panel <NUM>, and a combination meter <NUM>, a control signal to an inner rearview mirror assembly (not shown), and the like signals. As described above, the HVECU <NUM> is connected to the engine ECU <NUM>, the motor ECU <NUM>, the battery ECU <NUM>, and the navigation device <NUM> via the communication port. When the fuel tank <NUM> is refueled, the HVECU <NUM> calculates a refueled quantity based on a fuel quantity Qf from the fuel gauge 25a.

The hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment configured as described above performs hybrid travel (HV travel) or electric travel (EV travel) in a Charge Depleting (CD) mode or a Charge Sustaining (CS) mode. Herein, the CD mode is a mode that gives priority to the EV travel as compared to the CS mode. The HV travel is a mode of traveling with the operation of the engine <NUM>. The EV travel is a mode of traveling without the operation of the engine <NUM>.

In the embodiment, when the power plug <NUM> is connected to the external power source <NUM> while the vehicle is stopped with the system off (with the system stopped) at a battery charging point such as at home or in a battery charging station, the HVECU <NUM> controls the charger <NUM> to charge the battery <NUM> using electric power from the external power source <NUM>. When the state of charge SOC of the battery <NUM> is greater than a threshold value Shv1 (e.g., <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or <NUM>%) upon turning on the system (upon starting the system), the vehicle travels in the CD mode until the state of charge SOC of the battery <NUM> reaches a threshold value Shv2 (e.g., <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or <NUM>%) or less, while, after the state of charge SOC of the battery <NUM> reaches the threshold value Shv2 or less, the vehicle travels in the CS mode until the system is turned off. On the other hand, when the state of charge SOC of the battery <NUM> is less than or equal to the threshold value Shv1 upon turning on the system, the vehicle travels in the CS mode until the system is turned off.

Next, a description will be given of the operation of the hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment thus configured, particularly the operation of the hybrid vehicle <NUM> when a use index IDX indicating a degree of use of charging (external charging) of the battery <NUM> by the charger <NUM> is small, i.e. when the degree of use of external charging is low. <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of a use index calculation routine that is executed by the HVECU <NUM>. <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of a notification routine that is executed by the HVECU <NUM>. Hereinbelow, these routines will be described in order.

First described is the use index calculation routine of <FIG>. The routine is executed at a predetermined start timing, such as when the system is turned on (the system is started), when the system is turned off (the system is stopped), when charging of the battery <NUM> is completed by connecting the power plug <NUM> to the external power source <NUM>, or when the fuel tank <NUM> is refueled. Hereinbelow, a description will be given assuming that this routine is executed when the system is turned on (the system is started).

When the use index calculation routine is executed, the HVECU <NUM> first performs a process of inputting data that reflect vehicle use states and are necessary for calculating a use index IDX in a predetermined time period (step S100). Here, as the "predetermined time period," it is possible to use a predetermined time period set in advance in terms of time, such as one month or two months, a period determined in advance in terms of occasion, such as a period during <NUM> trips or a period during <NUM> trips, or the like. As "data that reflect vehicle use states", there can be cited, as data from the system-off timing of the last trip to the system-on timing of the current trip, the presence/absence of charging of the battery <NUM> by the charger <NUM> (the presence/absence of external charging), a charging time (a charger connecting time) for which the power plug <NUM> of the charger <NUM> is connected to the external power source <NUM>, and a charging amount of the battery <NUM> by the charger <NUM>. There can also be cited a refueled quantity, a fuel quantity Qf, a vehicle stop time from the system-off timing of the last trip to the system-on timing of the current trip, a travel distance in the last trip, and a travel time in the last trip. Further, there can be cited an EV-travel distance in the last trip, an EV-travel time in the last trip, an HV-travel distance in the last trip, and an HV-travel time in the last trip. Further, there can be cited an energy (an EV-travel energy) consumed by EV travel in the last trip, an energy (an HV-travel energy) consumed by HV travel in the last trip, a state of charge SOC, a current position of the vehicle, and so on.

After the data necessary for calculating the use index IDX are input as described above, the HVECU <NUM> calculates a use index IDX using the input data and stores the calculated use index IDX in the RAM (not shown) and the flash memory <NUM> of the HVECU <NUM> (step S110), and ends this routine. In the embodiment, the use index IDX is calculated as or is calculated based on a ratio of, to Number of Charging Chances (Number of Chances) in State where Vehicle can be externally charged, Number of Times of carrying out External Charging in that State (Number of Times of Charging in Chance) (Number of Times of Charging in Chance / Number of Chances). Here, the number of chances can be obtained by counting the number of times in which the vehicle was parked in a parking lot at home or in a battery charging station in the predetermined time period. Whether or not the vehicle is parked in the parking lot at home or in the battery charging station can be determined by determining whether or not the current position of the vehicle from the navigation device <NUM> is the parking lot at home or the battery charging station. The number of times of charging can be obtained by counting the number of times in which the vehicle was parked in the parking lot at home or in the battery charging station and charged in the predetermined time period. The use index IDX is calculated such that the greater the use index IDX, the better the use of charging (external charging) of the battery <NUM> by the charger <NUM>.

Next, the notification routine of <FIG> will be described. The routine is executed at a predetermined timing, such as when the system is turned on (in a case where the use index calculation routine of <FIG> is executed when the system is turned on (the system is started), the routine is executed after that), or when the system is turned off (the system is stopped).

When the notification routine is executed, the HVECU <NUM> inputs the use index IDX (step S200) and compares the use index IDX thus input with a threshold Iref (step S210). Here, the threshold value Iref is determined in advance as a threshold value for determining that the degree of use of external charging is low (the use of external charging is not performed preferably).

When the use index IDX is the threshold Iref or more, it is determined that the degree of use of external charging is not low, and this routine is finished. In the meantime, when the use index IDX is less than the threshold Iref, it is determined that the degree of use of external charging is low, and a process of notifying low-use information indicative of that to an outside of the vehicle is started (step S220). Here, the routine is finished. The process of notifying the low-use information to the outside of the vehicle can be executed until the system-off timing (during a trip), or can be executed for a predetermined time from the system-off timing.

In the embodiment, as the process of notifying the low-use information to the outside of the vehicle, one or more of the following changes are performed: change of color (temperature color) of the head lamp <NUM> at the time when the use index IDX is the threshold Iref or more (in a normal time); change of color of the back lamp <NUM>; change of color of the stop lamp <NUM>; change of color of the turn signal lamp <NUM>; change of color of a mirror cover of the outer rear view mirror assembly <NUM>; change of color of the exterior door handle assembly <NUM>; change of color of a letter of the number plate <NUM>; change of color of the number frame <NUM>; change of color of the mark emblem <NUM>; change of color of the letter emblem <NUM>; change of color of the charging inlet lid <NUM>; change of color of the refueling lid (not shown); change of color of the back door garnish assembly <NUM>; change of color of a letter of the back door name plate <NUM>; and the like. Note that it is preferable that the change of color of each part of the vehicle be performed within a range determined by laws and the like.

As the change of color (color temperature) of the head lamp <NUM>, it is conceivable, for example, that when the use index IDX is the threshold Iref or more, the color is changed to white (high temperature), and when the use index IDX is less than the threshold Iref, the color is changed to lemon yellow (low temperature). As the change of color of the outer rear view mirror assembly <NUM>, the exterior door handle assembly <NUM>, and the like, it is conceivable, for example, that: in a case where the use index IDX is the threshold Iref or more, the color is changed to the same color as the vehicle body <NUM>; and in a case where the use index IDX is less than the threshold Iref, when the use index IDX is not less than a threshold Iref2, which is smaller than the threshold Iref, the color is changed to yellow, and when the use index IDX is less than the threshold Iref2, the color is changed to a warning color such as red.

Thus, when the use index IDX is small, that is, when the degree of use of external charging is low, the process of notifying the low-use information to the outside of the vehicle is performed. This makes it possible to recognize (visually) from the outside of the vehicle that the degree of use of external charging is low. Hereby, by the recognition from the outside of the vehicle (recognition by people outside the vehicle, a vehicle external system, or the like), a preferential treatment can be easily performed on the vehicle or a penalty can be easily imposed on the vehicle. As a result, it is possible to urge a user to use the external charging, thereby making it possible to promote the use of external charging. Note that, as the preferential treatment and the penalty, there can be cited permission of use of a priority lane or a special-purpose lane on a road including a plurality of lanes, setting of a high toll or a low toll in a toll road, permission of entry to a parking lot or the like, permission of use of a priority parking space or a special-purpose parking space in a parking lot, setting of a high external-charging fee or a low external-charging fee at a battery charging station, and so on.

In the hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment described above, when the use index IDX indicative of the degree of use of external charging is less than the threshold Iref, the color of each part of the vehicle, such as the head lamp <NUM>, is changed from the color set when the use index IDX is the threshold Iref or more (in the normal time), as the process of notifying the low-use information to the outside of the vehicle. Hereby, by the recognition from the outside of the vehicle, a preferential treatment can be easily performed on the vehicle or a penalty can be easily imposed on the vehicle. As a result, it is possible to urge the user to use the external charging, thereby making it possible to promote the use of external charging. This makes it possible to achieve a reduction in environment load.

In the hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment, when the use index IDX is less than the threshold Iref, the color of each part of the vehicle, such as the head lamp <NUM>, is changed from the color set when the use index IDX is the threshold Iref or more (in the normal time). In substitution or addition to this, one or more of the following may be performed: display of the use index IDX; display of the message; change of shape of the vehicle; and lighting of an identification lamp (not shown) in a case where the identification lamp is provided. Note that it is also preferable that these operations be performed within a range determined by laws and the like, similarly to the embodiment.

In a case where the use index IDX is displayed, it is conceivable, for example, that the use index IDX is displayed in the form of a decimal number or a percentage on the vehicle body <NUM> (e.g., a part A surrounded by a broken line in <FIG>), the bonnet <NUM> (e.g., a part B surrounded by a broken line in <FIG>), the door <NUM> (e.g., a part C surrounded by a broken line in <FIG>), the number plate <NUM> (e.g., a part D surrounded by a broken line in <FIG>), the number frame <NUM> (e.g., a part E surrounded by a broken line in <FIG>), and the like. Hereby, due to the display of the use index IDX, it is possible to recognize (visually) from the outside of the vehicle that the degree of use of external charging is low.

In a case where the message corresponding to the use index IDX is displayed, it is conceivable, for example, that a message indicating that the use index IDX is low (e.g., "the external charging is not preferably used," "the external charging is not carried out," and the like) is displayed on the vehicle body <NUM> (e.g., the part A surrounded by the broken line in <FIG>), the bonnet <NUM> (e.g., the part B surrounded by the broken line in <FIG>), the door <NUM> (e.g., the part C surrounded by the broken line in <FIG>), and the like. Hereby, due to the display of the message, it is possible to recognize (visually) from the outside of the vehicle that the degree of use of external charging is low.

In a case where the shape of the vehicle is changed according to the use index IDX, it is conceivable, for example, that a length of a projecting portion of the antenna <NUM> from the vehicle body <NUM> is changed. Hereby, due to the length of the projecting portion of the antenna <NUM> from the vehicle body <NUM>, it is possible to recognize (visually) from the outside of the vehicle that the degree of use of external charging is low.

In the hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment, when the use index IDX is less than the threshold Iref, the low-use information indicating that the degree of use of external charging is low is notified to the outside of the vehicle, and when the use index IDX is the threshold Iref or more, the low-use information is not notified to the outside of the vehicle (nothing is performed in particular). However, when the use index IDX is the threshold Iref or more, high-use information indicating that the degree of use of external charging is high may be notified to the outside of the vehicle, and when the use index IDX is less than the threshold Iref, the high-use information is not notified to the outside of the vehicle (nothing is performed in particular). That is, information corresponding to the use index IDX may be notified to the outside of the vehicle (so that information on the use index IDX can be recognized from the outside of the vehicle). Note that the process of notifying the high-use information to the outside of the vehicle can be executed until the system-off timing (during a trip), or can be executed for a predetermined time from the system-off timing.

In the hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment or the modification, the process of notifying the low-use information or the high-use information to the outside of the vehicle is executed until the system-off timing (during a trip), or is executed for a predetermined time from the system-off timing. However, the process of notifying the low-use information or the high-use information to the outside of the vehicle may be executed only when the priority lane or the special-purpose lane on the road including the plurality of lanes is used during the trip. Further, the process of notifying the high-use information to the outside of the vehicle may be executed during external charging while the use index IDX is equal to the threshold Iref or not less than the threshold Iref3, which is larger than the threshold Iref. Further, the process of notifying the low-use information or the high-use information may be executed during external charging using, as electric power from the external power source <NUM>, electric power with a relatively large discharge amount of carbon dioxide and with a relatively low electric power cost.

In the hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment, when the use index IDX is less than the threshold Iref, information indicating that the degree of use of external charging is low is notified to the outside of the vehicle. However, in addition to this, information indicating that the degree of use of external charging is low may be notified to the inside of the vehicle. At the time when the information indicating that the degree of use of external charging is low is notified to the inside of the vehicle, it is conceivable, for example, to perform one or more of the following: change of color of the steering wheel <NUM>; change of color of the emblem <NUM> or the switch <NUM> provided in the steering wheel <NUM>; change of color of the instrument panel <NUM>; display of the use index IDX on the combination meter <NUM>; display of the use index IDX on a display of the navigation device <NUM>; display of the use index IDX on a mirror of the inner rearview mirror assembly (not shown); and the like. With such a configuration, it is possible not only to recognize (visually) from the outside of the vehicle that the degree of use of external charging is low, but also for a driver and other passengers to recognize it.

The hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment includes the charger <NUM> configured to charge the battery <NUM> by connecting the power plug <NUM> to the external power source <NUM>, but may include a charger that charges the battery <NUM> by receiving electric power from the external power source <NUM> in a non-contact manner.

In the hybrid vehicle <NUM> of the embodiment, the engine <NUM>, the motor MG1, and the drive shaft <NUM> are connected to the planetary gear <NUM>, and the motor MG2 is connected to the drive shaft <NUM>. As exemplified in a hybrid vehicle <NUM> of a modification in <FIG>, a motor MG may be connected to a drive shaft <NUM> connected to driving wheels 38a, 38b via a transmission <NUM>, and an engine <NUM> may be connected to a rotating shaft of the motor MG via a clutch <NUM>, so that power from the engine <NUM> is output to the drive shaft <NUM> via the rotating shaft of the motor MG and the transmission <NUM>, and power from the motor MG is output to the drive shaft via the transmission <NUM>. Further, a configuration of what is called a series hybrid vehicle may be employed. That is, any configuration may be employed, provided that the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle including an engine, a motor, a battery, and a charger that charges the battery by being connected to an external power source.

In the embodiment, the engine <NUM> is an example of an "engine," the fuel tank <NUM> is an example of a "fuel tank," the motor MG2 is an example of a "motor," the battery <NUM> is an example of a "battery," the charger <NUM> is an example of a "charger," and the HVECU <NUM> that executes the use index calculation process routine of <FIG> and the notification routine of <FIG>, the head lamp <NUM>, and the like are an example of a "notification mechanism.

Claim 1:
A hybrid vehicle (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
an engine (<NUM>);
a fuel tank (<NUM>) that stores fuel to be supplied to the engine (<NUM>);
a motor (MG2, MG);
a hybrid electronic control unit, HVECU, (<NUM>);
a battery (<NUM>) configured to supply electric power to the motor (MG2, MG);
a charger (<NUM>) configured to carry out external charging that charges the battery (<NUM>) by use of electric power from an external power source (<NUM>); and
a notification mechanism (<NUM>) configured to notify information on a use index (IDX) to an outside of the vehicle (<NUM>, <NUM>), the use index (IDX) being an index for indicating a degree of use of external charging in a predetermined time period,
characterized in that
the notification mechanism (<NUM>) is configured to visually notify the outside of the vehicle (<NUM>, <NUM>), and
the HVECU (<NUM>) is configured to calculate the use index (IDX) as or based on a ratio of the number of times that the external charging has been carried out in charging chances in which the vehicle is in a state where the external charging is able to be carried out to the number of the charging chances.