Patent ID: 6998727

Claim:
A method of operating a hybrid vehicle comprising: monitoring a braking event; monitoring an amount of available energy stored within an energy storage device to power a secondary power source; determining if the braking event indicates an intent to stop the vehicle; turning an ICE off when the braking event indicates an intent to stop the vehicle and the available energy to power the secondary power source is above a second threshold; detecting a demand for power output following the braking event; utilizing the amount of available energy to initially power the secondary power source and thereby propel the vehicle in response to the demand for power output if the available energy is above a first threshold; utilizing power provided by the ICE to continue meeting the demand for power output when the secondary power source is initially used and the amount of available energy is subsequently depleted; and utilizing power provided by the ICE, instead of the secondary power source, to propel the vehicle in response to the demand for power output when the available energy is not above the first threshold.