Patent ID: 8478466

Claim:
A control system for controlling operating modes of a hybrid vehicle, the vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine; a first electric motor-generator; an electric traction motor; a battery pack; a clutch physically disposed between the engine and the first electric motor-generator and configured to selectively engage and disengage the engine from the traction motor; and a user-selectable switch configured to permit an operator to select an electric-only power mode and override a hybrid driving mode; and the control system comprising: a vehicle controller operative to: receive a gear mode indicator, an electric-only power mode indicator, and a present battery storage capacity; compare the present battery storage capacity with a battery threshold; select an operating mode based on the gear-mode indicator, the electric-only power mode indicator, and a result of the comparison; and output a selected operating mode to control the engine, the first electric motor-generator, and the electric traction motor, so that the vehicle operates according to the selected mode.