Patent ID: 8249769

Claim:
A vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine; an electric power generating unit that generates electric power with at least part of power from the internal combustion engine; a motor that inputs and outputs power from and to an axle; an accumulator unit that inputs and outputs electric power from and to the electric power generating unit and the motor; a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the accumulator unit; a driving force demand setting module that sets a driving force demand for driving the vehicle; and a control module that drives the internal combustion engine and controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of a driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand, wherein, upon a satisfaction of a specific condition that the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is less than a first preset reference temperature, the control module controls charge and discharge of the accumulator unit for warming up the accumulator unit, wherein the specific condition is one of conditions for prohibiting an intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine, wherein, when the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is greater than or equal to the first preset reference temperature and when the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine other than the specific condition are not satisfied, the control module performs the intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine and controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand, and wherein, when the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is greater than or equal to the first preset reference temperature and when the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine other than the specific condition are satisfied, the control module continues the operation of the internal combustion engine and controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand and charge and discharge of the accumulator unit for warming up the accumulator unit.