Patent ID: 7562730

Claim:
A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine that outputs power to a driveshaft linked to an axle via a gear mechanism; a motor that inputs and outputs power from and to the driveshaft; an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine and to the driveshaft and outputs at least part of the output power of the internal combustion engine to the driveshaft through input and output of electric power and mechanical power; an accumulator unit that is capable of inputting and outputting electric power from and to the motor and the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism; a driving force demand setting module that sets a driving force demand to be output to the driveshaft; a stop-start requirement module that gives a stop request of the internal combustion engine upon satisfaction of a preset operation stop condition and gives a start request of the internal combustion engine upon satisfaction of a preset operation start condition; and a control module that, on condition that the driving force demand is not lower than a preset reference driving force, controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism, and the motor to stop operation of the internal combustion engine and to ensure output of a driving force equivalent to the driving force demand to the driveshaft, in response to the stop request of the internal combustion engine given by said stop-start requirement module, on condition that the driving force demand is lower than the preset reference driving force, said control module controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism, and the motor to keep the internal combustion engine in an operating state and to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the driving force demand to the driveshaft, regardless of the stop request of the internal combustion engine.