Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus to be applied to a hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor, an engine, a clutch mechanism, a torque converter, and a control system. In a case of switching a traveling mode of the hybrid vehicle from a motor mode to an engine mode in response to an increase in requested driving force from a first driving force to a second driving force resulting from an operation of an accelerator of the vehicle, the control system starts up the engine and engages the clutch mechanism while controlling the electric motor based on a transition driving force larger than the first driving force. After a lapse of a delay time from completion of starting up of the engine and engaging the clutch mechanism, the control system controls the electric motor and the engine based on the second driving force larger than the transition driving force.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a battery, a coupling mechanism, an electric power generating mechanism, and a vehicle controller. The engine and motor drive driving wheels. The battery supplies electric power for running to the motor. The coupling mechanism switches coupling of the engine and the driving wheels between direct coupling and buffering coupling. The electric power generating mechanism generates electric power. The vehicle controller switches a running mode of the hybrid electric vehicle between a first running mode and a second running mode with higher running performance. The vehicle controller limits the electric power generation under a first condition when the buffering coupling is applied during the first running mode and limits the electric power generation under a second condition less limited than the first condition when the buffering coupling is applied during the second running mode.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a motor generator, an engine, a transmission mechanism, a clutch mechanism, and a control system configured to control the motor generator, the engine, the transmission mechanism and the clutch mechanism. The control system has a first traveling mode to engage the clutch mechanism and a second traveling mode to disengage the clutch mechanism. The control system is configured to set a shift period based on a transmission gear ratio of the transmission mechanism. The control system is configured to: control, upon switching from the first traveling mode to the second traveling mode, the clutch mechanism to be in a state where the clutch mechanism is engaged for an entirety of the shift period; and under the state where the clutch mechanism is engaged, decrease a torque of the engine and increase a power running torque of the motor generator.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a vehicle controller. The vehicle controller is capable of switching a traveling mode of the electric vehicle between a first traveling mode and a second traveling mode that applies driving-force maps for enhancing a rough-road capability from a rough-road capability in the first traveling mode. The vehicle controller is capable of switching the traveling mode to the second traveling mode in forward traveling and in backward traveling and is configured to apply, to the backward traveling in the second traveling mode, a first driving-force map of the driving-force maps, the first driving-force map having gentler characteristics than a second driving-force map of the driving-force map applied to the forward traveling in the second traveling mode.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a battery, a coupling mechanism, an electric power generating mechanism, and a vehicle controller. The engine and motor drive driving wheels. The battery supplies electric power for running to the motor. The coupling mechanism switches coupling of the engine and the driving wheels between direct coupling and buffering coupling. The electric power generating mechanism generates electric power. The vehicle controller switches a running mode of the hybrid electric vehicle between a first running mode and a second running mode with higher running performance. The vehicle controller limits the electric power generation under a first condition when the buffering coupling is applied during the first running mode and limits the electric power generation under a second condition less limited than the first condition when the buffering coupling is applied during the second running mode.