Abstract: A delay time for delaying starting of an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle is set to a predetermined time based on an engine coolant temperature and a state of an air conditioner switch. Starting of the engine is delayed for the predetermined time if it is determined that a vehicle can run using only a motor based on a required torque, a required power and an SOC of the battery. The predetermined time is determined based on a time necessary for completing preheating of an engine by a preheating device, preparations of sensors such as an air-furl ratio sensor, and warming-up of an exhaust gas purifying device. As a result, it is possible to efficiently perform start of the engine and operation immediately after the engine start, and to make control at the engine start time simple.

Abstract: The technique of the invention sets a compensated power Pa and updates a charge-discharge power demand Pb* with the setting of compensated power Pa, when a driving power demand Pr* set according to an observed accelerator opening Acc is not less than a lower correction limit P3, which is less than an engine stop criterion value P2, but is less than an upper correction limit P4, which is greater than the engine stop criterion value P2 but is less than an engine start criterion value P1 (steps S220 and S230). The technique then calculates an engine power demand Pe* from the updated charge-discharge power demand Pb* (step S240) and controls an engine and two motors. When the driving power demand Pr* is less than the lower correction limit P3, the technique stops operation of the engine (S150) and drives the hybrid vehicle with the power of the motor (steps S170 to S190).

Abstract: The technique of the invention sets a compensated power Pa and updates a charge-discharge power demand Pb* with the setting of compensated power Pa, when a driving power demand Pr* set according to an observed accelerator opening Acc is not less than a lower correction limit P3, which is less than an engine stop criterion value P2, but is less than an upper correction limit P4, which is greater than the engine stop criterion value P2 but is less than an engine start criterion value P1 (steps S220 and S230). The technique then calculates an engine power demand Pe* from the updated charge-discharge power demand Pb* (step S240) and controls an engine and two motors.

Abstract: A delay time for delaying starting of an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle is set to a predetermined time based on an engine coolant temperature and a state of an air conditioner switch. Starting of the engine is delayed for the predetermined time if it is determined that a vehicle can run using only a motor based on a required torque, a required power and an SOC of the battery. The predetermined time is determined based on a time necessary for completing preheating of an engine by a preheating device, preparations of sensors such as an air-furl ratio sensor, and warming-up of an exhaust gas purifying device. As a result, it is possible to efficiently perform start of the engine and operation immediately after the engine start, and to make control at the engine start time simple.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel filling structure includes a coupler connected to a gaseous fuel supply system, a gaseous fuel cylinder that stores a gaseous fuel at a high pressure, a fuel dissipation preventing device that prevents dissipation of the gaseous fuel, and a switching device that is selectively placed in a first state in which the coupler is connected to the gaseous fuel cylinder and disconnected from the fuel dissipation preventing device, or a second state in which the coupler is connected to the fuel dissipation preventing device. The switching device includes a member(s) for preventing back flow of the gaseous fuel from the gaseous fuel cylinder toward the coupler.