Patent ID: 8198836

Claim:
A hybrid vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine; a power generator that generates electric power using power from the internal combustion engine; a motor that outputs power for travel of the hybrid vehicle; an electric power storage device which is charged with the electric power, and from which the electric power is discharged; a first inverter that is connected to the electric power storage device and the motor, and that drives the motor; a second inverter connected to the electric power storage device; a connection switching device that switches a connection state of the second inverter between a connection state in which the second inverter connected to the power generator, and a connection state in which the second inverter is connected to the motor; a required drive power setting portion that sets required drive power required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle; a large drive power determination portion that determines whether the hybrid vehicle is in a large-drive-power required state in which drive power equal to or larger than a predetermined value is required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle; and a control device which controls the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching device so that the hybrid vehicle travels using the set required drive power while the second inverter is connected to the power generator, when the large drive power determination device determines that the hybrid vehicle is not in the large-drive-power required state, and which controls the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching device so that the hybrid vehicle travels using the set required drive power while the second inverter is connected to the motor, when the large drive power determination device determines that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state.