Patent ID: 8204639

Claim:
A hybrid vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine capable of outputting power for driving; a motor capable of outputting power for driving; an accumulator capable of supplying and receiving electric power from the motor; an efficiency priority mode selection switch to select an efficiency priority mode that gives priority to energy efficiency; a driving force demand setting module configured to set a driving force demand required for driving the hybrid vehicle; a target operation point setting module configured to set a target operation point of the internal combustion engine based on the set driving force demand; and a control module configured to control the internal combustion engine and the motor so that the internal combustion engine is operated at the set target operation point and a driving power equivalent to the set driving force demand is ensured when the efficiency priority mode selection switch is turned off upon driving with power from both the internal combustion engine and the motor, the control module controlling the internal combustion engine and the motor so that the internal combustion engine is operated at the set target operation point and the motor outputs lower power for driving in comparison with a turn-off condition of the efficiency priority mode selection switch when the efficiency priority mode selection switch is turned on upon driving with power from both the internal combustion engine and the motor, wherein the control module sets a torque command value for the motor to be smaller by a predetermined amount than that of the turn-off condition of the efficiency priority mode selection switch when the efficiency priority mode selection switch is turned on upon driving with power from both the internal combustion engine and the motor.