Patent ID: 7946951

Claim:
A vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine; an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to a drive shaft coupled to an axle, and connected to an output shaft of said internal combustion engine so as to be rotatable independently of the drive shaft, and can input and output mechanical power to and from said drive shaft and said output shaft, with the input and output of electric power and mechanical power; an electric motor that can output mechanical power to said drive shaft; a generator capable of exchanging electric power with said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor; a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed; a standstill judgment device that judges whether or not a vehicle is at a standstill on the basis of said detected vehicle speed; and a control device that when a demand for an idle operation of said internal combustion engine has been made, controls said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of a power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged by said standstill judgment device that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a high vehicle speed travel which is such that said detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed high vehicle speed range, controls said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a second rotation speed higher than said first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of the power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged by said standstill judgment device that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a low vehicle speed travel which is such that said detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed low vehicle speed range, and controls the internal combustion engine so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a third rotation speed lower than said second rotation speed during a standstill in a case where it has been judged by said standstill judgment device that said vehicle is at a standstill.