Abstract: The number of opportunities where external charging of a vehicle parked in a residential parking space or a charging station in a predetermined period is available is counted as the number of opportunities, and the number of times of the external charging performed in the opportunities in the same predetermined period is counted as the number of times of charging. The number of times of charging is then divided by the number of opportunities to calculate and store a charging frequency. Since the charging frequency is a ratio of the number of times that the external charging was performed to the number of opportunities where the external charging is available in the predetermined period, the ratio is used as an index that can offer more accurate determination regarding an external charging utilization status. As a result, various processing to promote external charging are executed more properly.

Abstract: A utilization index IDX is calculated based on one or more parameters (the number of times of charging/the number of trips, total battery charger connection time/total vehicle stop time, total EV traveling distance/total HV traveling distance, total EV traveling time/total HV traveling time, total EV traveling distance/total traveling distance, total EV traveling time/total traveling time, total charge amount/total fuel supply quantity) obtained based on a ratio of an EV traveling utilization level to an HV traveling utilization level or a total traveling utilization level, and the utilization index IDX is stored. Since the utilization index IDX is calculated such that as each parameter is larger, utilization of charging of a battery by a battery charger is performed more sufficiently. Accordingly, the utilization index IDX can be used as an index that offers more accurate determination regarding a utilization status of the battery charging.

Abstract: The number of opportunities where external charging of a vehicle parked in a residential parking space or a charging station in a predetermined period is available is counted as the number of opportunities, and the number of times of the external charging performed in the opportunities in the same predetermined period is counted as the number of times of charging. The number of times of charging is then divided by the number of opportunities to calculate and store a charging frequency. Since the charging frequency is a ratio of the number of times that the external charging was performed to the number of opportunities where the external charging is available in the predetermined period, the ratio is used as an index that can offer more accurate determination regarding an external charging utilization status. As a result, various processing to promote external charging are executed more properly.

Abstract: In an electrically heated catalyst which is arranged in an exhaust passage, electric leakage is suppressed as much as possible. The electrically heated catalyst comprising: a heat generation element; an electrode; a case; an electrode chamber; and an electrically insulating holding member that is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of the heat generation element and the case, and has an abutment joint portion formed by a pair of end faces which connect from an upstream side end portion to a downstream side end portion of the holding member, and which are arranged in opposition to each other, and an opening portion which is constructed so as to form a predetermined space connected with the electrode chamber in the surrounding of the electrode. The abutment joint portion is arranged in a position which excludes the opening portion, and in which it is not exposed to the electrode chamber.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a fuel tank, a motor, a battery, a charger, and a notification mechanism. The battery is configured to supply electric power to the motor. The charger is configured to carry out external charging that charges the battery by use of electric power from an external power source. The notification mechanism is configured to notify, to an outside of the vehicle, information on a use index indicative of a degree of use of external charging in a predetermined time period.

Abstract: When a use index indicative of a degree of use of external charging is less than a threshold, an electronic control unit determines that the degree of use of external charging is low, and executes a charging guide control to promote the use of external charging at the time of parking at a battery charging point, such as at home or in a battery charging station, where the external charging is performable. Hereby, it is possible to promote a driver to use external charging at the time of parking at the battery charging point. As a result, the use of external charging can be promoted.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a fuel tank, a motor, a battery, a charger, and a notification mechanism. The battery is configured to supply electric power to the motor. The charger is configured to carry out external charging that charges the battery by use of electric power from an external power source. The notification mechanism is configured to notify, to an outside of the vehicle, information on a use index indicative of a degree of use of external charging in a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming part that forms an image on one surface of a recording material; and a second image forming part provided at an upper side of the first image forming part in a gravitational direction, the second image forming part that transports the recording material received from the first image forming part such that the one surface faces downward in the gravitational direction and that forms an image on the one surface from a lower side in the gravitational direction.

Abstract: A use index IDX indicative of a degree of use of external charging is calculated and transmitted to a vehicle external system. The vehicle external system provides a service or imposes a penalty based on the use index IDX. In a case where the degree of use of external charging is determined to be low based on the use index IDX, if the vehicle external system provides a non-preferential service or imposes a heavy penalty as compared with a case where the degree of use of external charging is determined to be high, a driver or an owner of a vehicle takes an action by which the use index is determined to indicate a high degree of use of external charging. As a result, the use of external charging can be promoted.

Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst device has a catalyst that purifies exhaust gas from an engine, and is configured to heat the catalyst with electric power that is supplied from an electric storage device. A current sensor detects a current that is supplied to the electrically heated catalyst device. A current sensor detects an input/output current of the electric storage device. A controller executes failure determination control to determine whether the current sensor has a failure. In the failure determination control, the controller estimates a current that is supplied to the electrically heated catalyst device using a detection value of the current sensor and compares the estimated current with a detection value of the current sensor to determine whether the current sensor has a failure.

Abstract: In an electrically heated catalyst which is arranged in an exhaust passage, electric leakage is suppressed as much as possible. The electrically heated catalyst comprising: a heat generation element; an electrode; a case; an electrode chamber; and an electrically insulating holding member that is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of the heat generation element and the case, and has an abutment joint portion formed by a pair of end faces which connect from an upstream side end portion to a downstream side end portion of the holding member, and which are arranged in opposition to each other, and an opening portion which is constructed so as to form a predetermined space connected with the electrode chamber in the surrounding of the electrode. The abutment joint portion is arranged in a position which excludes the opening portion, and in which it is not exposed to the electrode chamber.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a pressing unit and a heating unit that opposes the pressing unit; and plural guide portions disposed downstream of the fixing device and arranged in a direction crossing a transporting direction of a recording medium. An amount of projection of the guide portions is smaller in a region near a center of the fixing device than in a region near an end of the fixing device.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a fuel tank, a motor, a battery, a charger, and a notification mechanism. The battery is configured to supply electric power to the motor. The charger is configured to carry out external charging that charges the battery by use of electric power from an external power source. The notification mechanism is configured to notify, to an outside of the vehicle, information on a use index indicative of a degree of use of external charging in a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a fuel tank, a motor, a battery, a charger, and a notification mechanism. The battery is configured to supply electric power to the motor. The charger is configured to carry out external charging that charges the battery by use of electric power from an external power source. The notification mechanism is configured to notify, to an outside of the vehicle, information on a use index indicative of a degree of use of external charging in a predetermined time period.

Abstract: Provided is an EGR device that allows an EGR valve to be removed with ease even when the EGR valve is provided adjacent to a turbocharger. The EGR device includes a first connecting pipe portion (41b) extending from a compressor of the turbocharger and having a first annular shoulder surface (41c) at a base end thereof, an EGR valve (65) fixedly attached to a part of the engine, a joint member (71) including a flange (71a) attached to the EGR valve (65) and a second connecting pipe portion (71b), and opposing the first connecting pipe portion in a coaxial relationship, the second connecting pipe portion being provided with a second annular shoulder surface (71c) at a base end thereof, and a flexible pipe member (72) having a first end fitted onto the first connecting pipe portion and a second end fitted onto the second connecting pipe portion. A distance (L2) between the two annular shoulder surfaces is greater than a length (L1) of the flexible pipe member by a prescribed distance.

Abstract: An EHC is configured to electrically heat a catalyst that purifies exhaust gas from an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine mounted on an electrically-powered vehicle, when a current passes through the EHC. A charger converts AC electric power supplied from an external power supply to a charging port into charging power of a power storage device by a power conversion path including an insulating transformer. The EHC is electrically connected to power lines which are provided on the primary side of the insulating transformer on the power conversion path, and to which a DC voltage is output. In a case where the EHC is operated when the vehicle travels, the charger converts the electric power from the power storage device into the DC voltage output to the power lines connected to the EHC, by a part of inverse conversion of power conversion at the time of external charging.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a first transport device, a second transport device, a first guide member, and a second guide member. The first transport device transports a sheet. The second transport device is disposed downstream of the first transport device in a transport direction and transports the sheet. The first guide member is disposed between the first and second transport device such that the second transport device is closer to the first guide member than the first transport device and guides the sheet to the second transport device. The second guide member is disposed between the first and second transport device such that the first transport device is closer to the second guide member than the second transport device and guides the sheet to the first guide member while curving the sheet.

Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst device has a catalyst that purifies exhaust gas from an engine, and is configured to heat the catalyst with electric power that is supplied from an electric storage device. A current sensor detects a current that is supplied to the electrically heated catalyst device. A current sensor detects an input/output current of the electric storage device. A controller executes failure determination control to determine whether the current sensor has a failure. In the failure determination control, the controller estimates a current that is supplied to the electrically heated catalyst device using a detection value of the current sensor and compares the estimated current with a detection value of the current sensor to determine whether the current sensor has a failure.

Abstract: A control device executes abnormality detection processing for detecting an abnormality of a current sensor. The abnormality detection processing includes first processing which is executed in a case where, during reception of electric power from a power supply, a state of charge of a power storage device is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount and electric power is supplied to an electrically heated catalyst device. The first processing includes processing for detecting an abnormality of the current sensor by estimating a current supplied to the electrically heated catalyst device using a detection value of a charging current sensor and comparing the estimated value with a detection value of the current sensor.

Abstract: A use index IDX indicative of a degree of use of external charging is calculated and transmitted to a vehicle external system. The vehicle external system provides a service or imposes a penalty based on the use index IDX. In a case where the degree of use of external charging is determined to be low based on the use index IDX, if the vehicle external system provides a non-preferential service or imposes a heavy penalty as compared with a case where the degree of use of external charging is determined to be high, a driver or an owner of a vehicle takes an action by which the use index is determined to indicate, a high degree of use of external charging. As a result, the use of external charging can be promoted.