Patent ID: 8234031

Claim:
A method of operating a parallel hybrid vehicle having an electric motor/generator, an internal combustion engine (ICE), and an electric energy storage device, comprising the steps of: accelerating the vehicle from rest or near rest with only the electric motor/generator; determining a blend-in speed such that an amount of electric energy that will be used for accelerating the vehicle to a predetermined maximum speed is substantially the same as an amount of electric energy that will be regenerated during deceleration of the vehicle to rest or near rest; if the vehicle's speed is greater than the blend-in speed, further accelerating the vehicle to a predetermined maximum speed with both the electric motor/generator and the ICE; decelerating the vehicle to rest or near rest; regenerating electric energy from decelerating the vehicle; and storing regenerated electric energy in the electric energy storage device; wherein an amount of electric energy stored is substantially the same as an amount of electric energy withdrawn from the electric energy storage device while accelerating the vehicle.