Patent ID: 8417408

Claim:
A drive control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, wherein: the hybrid vehicle comprises: an engine which is selectively set in one of a normal fuel-consumption operation mode and a low fuel-consumption operation mode for obtaining a lower fuel consumption in comparison with the normal fuel-consumption operation mode; a generator/motor as a first motor selectively used for being driven by the engine and assisting driving of the engine; a motor as a second motor for generating a driving force of the vehicle by electric power supplied by the generator/motor or a battery device; and a clutch provided between the generator/motor and wheels of the vehicle, and the drive control apparatus comprises: a control part for performing a low fuel-consumption driving assistance mode when the engine is set in the low fuel-consumption operation mode, wherein in the low fuel-consumption driving assistance mode: the clutch is connected; and driving of the vehicle is assisted using the generator/motor in accordance with an operation state of the vehicle; wherein: when a vehicle speed of the vehicle is lower than a threshold which is determined in consideration of efficiencies of the generator/motor and the second motor, the control part performs a low fuel-consumption motor driving-assistance mode in which the second motor is selected for assisting the driving of the vehicle, and when the vehicle speed is higher than or equal to the threshold, the control part performs a low fuel-consumption generator/motor driving-assistance mode in which the generator/motor is selected for assisting the driving of the vehicle; wherein: when a required driving force of the vehicle is smaller than zero, if the clutch is disconnected, the control part performs an series regeneration (S-REGEN) mode in which regeneration of electric power is performed using the second motor, if the clutch is connected and the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value, then the control part performs a cylinder stop lock-up S-REGEN mode in which the engine performs the cylinder stop operation, and regeneration of electric power is performed using the generator/motor, and if the clutch is connected and the vehicle speed is higher than or equal to the predetermined value, then the control part performs a cylinder stop lock-up parallel regeneration (P-REGEN) mode in which the engine performs the cylinder stop operation, and regeneration of electric power is performed using the second motor.