Patent ID: 8050830

Claim:
A driving apparatus for a vehicle used in a vehicle provided with an internal-combustion engine and a motor as prime movers and is capable of changing speed of mechanical power from the internal-combustion engine and the motor by a transmission mechanism and transmitting the power to a vehicle propeller shaft engaging with a driving wheel, the driving apparatus comprising: a first transmission mechanism capable of receiving the mechanical power from an engine output shaft by a first input shaft to change the speed by any one of a plurality of gear positions and transmitting the power to the vehicle propeller shaft; a second transmission mechanism capable of receiving the mechanical power from the engine output shaft and the motor by a second input shaft to change the speed by any one of a plurality of gear positions and transmitting the power to the vehicle propeller shaft; a first clutch capable of engaging the engine output shaft with the first input shaft; a second clutch capable of engaging the engine output shaft with the second input shaft; and a controlling unit capable of controlling a selection of the gear position in the first transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism and an engaging state of the first clutch and the second clutch, wherein the controlling unit selects the gear position of the first transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism so as to reduce the speed of the mechanical power received by the second input shaft and transmit the power to the first input shaft, and when putting the first clutch into an engaging state, the controlling unit selects the gear position of the first transmission mechanism such that an engine rotational speed when performing the cranking is not lower than a required rotational speed set in advance and is the lowest, when performing cranking of the internal-combustion engine during a motor travel which is a vehicle travel using only the motor as the prime mover.