US 12,269,459 B2
Hybrid electric vehicle
Naoki Nakanishi, Nagoya (JP); Masato Yoshikawa, Toyota (JP); and Hironobu Aratake, Chiryu (JP)
Assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed by TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed on Sep. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/948,565.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-155966 (JP), filed on Sep. 24, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0104075 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. B60W 20/00 (2016.01); B60K 6/26 (2007.10); B60K 6/387 (2007.10); B60K 6/40 (2007.10); B60W 20/40 (2016.01)
CPC B60W 20/40 (2013.01) [B60K 6/26 (2013.01); B60K 6/387 (2013.01); B60K 6/40 (2013.01); B60K 2006/268 (2013.01); B60W 2510/1005 (2013.01); B60W 2520/10 (2013.01); B60W 2540/12 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
an internal combustion engine;
an electric motor;
drive wheels;
a frictional engagement device disposed between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor in a power transmission path through which a power is to be transmitted from the internal combustion engine to the drive wheels;
a transmission disposed between the electric motor and the drive wheels in the power transmission path;
a battery configured to supply an electric power to the electric motor, wherein when the internal combustion engine is to be started, the frictional engagement device is engaged to transmit a torque from the electric motor to the internal combustion engine, for thereby starting the internal combustion engine; and
a processor that is configured to inhibit stop of the internal combustion engine, when an outputtable electric power outputtable from the battery is not larger than a threshold value that is determined based on a start-case-required electric power that is required to start the internal combustion engine such that the threshold value is not smaller than the start-case-required electric power,
wherein, when the vehicle is being stopped, the threshold value is set to a value that is changed depending on a brake depressing force applied to a brake operating member of the vehicle, such that the threshold value is reduced substantially inversely proportional to increase of the brake depressing force.