Abstract: In response to the driver's depression of a brake pedal in requirement of catalyst deterioration control with a catalyst deterioration control flag Fc set equal to 1, the braking control of the invention controls the operation of a motor to make a rotation speed Ne of an engine approach to a target rotation speed Ne* in a state of continued combustion (firing) of the engine (steps S180 and S190). Such control ensures a quick decrease of the rotation speed Ne of the engine to the target rotation speed Ne*, thus effectively reducing the wasteful fuel consumption due to the continued operation of the engine at a high rotation speed and enhancing the overall energy efficiency of the vehicle.

Abstract: At the time of a Hi-to-Lo speed change of a transmission, which is configured to transmit an output torque of a motor to a driveshaft, in an accelerator off state or in a low acceleration state with the driver's slight depression of an accelerator pedal, an engine is controlled to be driven at a rotation speed of not lower than a speed change-time minimum rotation speed that is higher than an idling rotation speed. When the driver depresses the accelerator pedal to require a large torque demand, such drive control enables quick output of a large torque from the engine to a ring gear shaft as the driveshaft.

Abstract: When a gear of a transmission for transmitting torque of a motor to a drive shaft is shifted while an accelerator is off or an accelerator pedal is slightly stepped on, an upper limit rotation speed is set using a fluctuation rate of a value smaller than a value when the gear is not shifted, a target rotation speed of an engine is set using this upper limit rotation speed, and control is carried out so that an engine is operated at the target rotation speed. By this arrangement, when the accelerator pedal is stepped on and a large torque demand is demanded, rise of the engine rotation speed is restricted, a portion used for raising the rotation speed in power outputted from the engine is made smaller, and a larger power can be outputted to the drive shaft.

Abstract: In the presence of a torque change request (step S170) for changing a torque Tm2 of one motor MG2 to enable a smooth gearshift of a transmission interposed between a motor and a driveshaft, when the change of the torque Tm2 is unattainable within the range of an input limit Win and an output limit Wout of a battery (step S200), the power output apparatus of the invention resets a torque command Tm1* of the other motor MG1 to be within the input limit Win and the output limit Wout of the battery (steps S210 and S250). The power output apparatus also resets an engine power demand Pe* to make a rotation speed Ne of an engine approximately equal to a target rotation speed Ne* (steps S230 and S270). This arrangement ensures a smooth gearshift of the transmission.

Abstract: In response to an upshift of a gearshift position SP in a sequential gearshift range, the drive control of the invention once lowers the rotation speed Ne of an engine. This variation in rotation speed of the engine enables the driver to have adequate gear change feeling, which is similar to the familiar gear change feeling in a conventional motor vehicle equipped with a stepped automatic transmission. Namely the drive control of the invention effectively prevents the driver from feeling something is wrong.

Abstract: In a drive system, where power from a motor is transmitted to a drive shaft and a transmission ratio is changed by a transmission, if the absolute value of the difference between the reference torque Tm2r0, which is the drive shaft side torque Tm2r at the onset of a change in the shift speed of the transmission, and the driving shaft side torque Tm2r during the change is less than the threshold value ? until the end of the change (S280), the application state of a brake in the transmission during the change and the state of the hydraulic pressure supplied to the brake are learned (S290). During the change, and actuator of the transmission is controlled using those learned results. Accordingly, any deviations that may have occurred due to changes over time in the transmission, etc. are corrected and the shift speed of the transmission is changed more appropriately.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a planetary gear mechanism linked to an engine, a first motor, and a drive shaft and having a second motor attached to the drive shaft via a transmission, in a Lo gear position of the transmission, the control procedure of the invention drives the engine intermittently corresponding to a preset engine power demand Pe* (steps S170 and S230). In a Hi gear position of the transmission, the control procedure keeps the engine in load operation (step S330). When a relatively large driving force is required in the Hi gear position of the transmission, the drive control of the invention enables quicker output of the required driving force to the drive shaft, compared with the output of the driving force from the operation stop state of the engine.

Abstract: In response to an upshift of a gearshift position SP in a sequential gearshift range, the drive control of the invention once lowers the rotation speed Ne of an engine. This variation in rotation speed of the engine enables the driver to have adequate gear change feeling, which is similar to the familiar gear change feeling in a conventional motor vehicle equipped with a stepped automatic transmission. Namely the drive control of the invention effectively prevents the driver from feeling something is wrong.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a planetary gear mechanism linked to an engine, a first motor, and a drive shaft and having a second motor attached to the drive shaft via a transmission, in a Lo gear position of the transmission, the control procedure of the invention drives the engine intermittently corresponding to a preset engine power demand Pe* (steps S170 and S230). In a Hi gear position of the transmission, the control procedure keeps the engine in load operation (step S330). When a relatively large driving force is required in the Hi gear position of the transmission, the drive control of the invention enables quicker output of the required driving force to the drive shaft, compared with the output of the driving force from the operation stop state of the engine.

Abstract: The technique of the invention sets a relationship between the throttle opening (corresponding to the accelerator opening), the vehicle speed, and the target torque of a drive shaft, so as to enable a greater braking torque to be output in a working status of a cruise control system than a braking torque, which is output to the drive shaft in a full closed position of the accelerator opening in a non-working status of the cruise control system. This arrangement ensures output of a sufficient braking force to the drive shaft even under the condition of a relatively large drive load applied to the drive shaft, for example, during a downslope run, thus enabling the vehicle speed to be certainly kept at a preset level under the control of the cruise control system.

Abstract: The technique of the invention sets a relationship between the throttle opening (corresponding to the accelerator opening), the vehicle speed, and the target torque of a drive shaft, so as to enable a greater braking torque to be output in a working status of a cruise control system than a braking torque, which is output to the drive shaft in a full closed position of the accelerator opening in a non-working status of the cruise control system. This arrangement ensures output of a sufficient braking force to the drive shaft even under the condition of a relatively large drive load applied to the drive shaft, for example, during a downslope run, thus enabling the vehicle speed to be certainly kept at a preset level under the control of the cruise control system.