Patent ID: 8838317

Claim:
A control device for a hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine; a motor disposed in a driveline between the engine and driving wheels; a first clutch for selectively switching between a hybrid vehicle mode using the engine and the motor as a driving source, and an electric vehicle mode using the motor as the driving source; a transmission disposed between the motor and the driving wheels; and an electric vehicle mode controller configured to: during a travel in the electric vehicle mode when a transmission ratio is at or less than a predetermined value, set an engine startup torque preserved for transition to the hybrid vehicle mode to a smaller torque than a required torque for engine startup; set the engine startup torque smaller as the transmission ratio decreases; and reduce a clutch engagement capacity of a second clutch selectively engaged downstream of the motor by a difference between the required torque for engine startup and the set engine startup torque, thereby compensating the required torque for engine startup.