Abstract: In an engine mounted on a hybrid vehicle, even in an atmosphere that readily cools down a catalyst by relatively low-temperature gaseous exhausts, for example, under a fuel cut control, the structure of the invention quickly warms up the catalyst and maintains a conversion efficiency of the gaseous exhausts at a high level. When it is determined that an engine is in operation and the fuel cut control is being performed, a reflux valve is turned on to reflux the gaseous exhausts into an intake conduit. This control procedure enables the relatively low-temperature gaseous exhausts to be refluxed to the intake conduit, instead of flowing into the catalyst, thereby preventing the catalyst from being cooled down.

Abstract: In an engine mounted on a hybrid vehicle, even in an atmosphere that readily cools down a catalyst by relatively low-temperature gaseous exhausts, for example, under a fuel cut control, the structure of the invention quickly warms up the catalyst and maintains a conversion efficiency of the gaseous exhausts at a high level. When it is determined that an engine 10 is in operation and the fuel cut control is being performed, a reflux valve is turned on to reflux the gaseous exhausts into an intake conduit. This control procedure enables the relatively low-temperature gaseous exhausts to be refluxed to the intake conduit, instead of flowing into the catalyst, thereby preventing the catalyst from being cooled down.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle reduces a shock and improves the fuel consumption rate when an engine is under a fuel cut control at the time of reducing a speed through an operation of a brake pedal. In case that all conditions are fulfilled, that is, the fuel cut control, the speed reduction of not less than a predetermined level, and the non-full charge state of a battery, the program locks an intake valve and an exhaust valve in full open position and carries out a regenerative control with a generator 14. This procedure enables a cylinder to be connected with an intake air conduit and an exhaust conduit via the passages of the intake valve and the exhaust valve, thereby preventing compression of a gas in the cylinder and effectively reducing friction.