Hybrid vehicle control device

A hybrid vehicle control device comprising:

• an engine and a motor both serving as a driving power source of a vehicle;
• a first clutch arranged in a power-train system of the driving power source to drive road wheels, the first clutch being interposed between the engine and the motor for varying a transmitted torque capacity between both the engine and the motor;
• a second clutch arranged in the power-train system, the second clutch being interposed between the motor and the drive road wheels for varying a transmitted torque capacity between both the motor and the drive road wheels;
• and
• a controller;
• wherein the controller is configured to start the engine by bringing the first clutch into engagement, while slipping the second clutch, and by increasing a driving torque of the motor, when it has been determined that an engine start request is present, in an electric vehicle driving (EV) mode that enables the vehicle to run by the driving torque of the motor with the first clutch disengaged and with the second clutch engaged,
• wherein the controller is further configured to command a start of engagement of the first clutch once a first-out engagement-start command condition, in which a difference between the driving torque of the motor and a transmitted torque capacity of the second clutch becomes greater than or equal to a preset slip prediction determination threshold value after it has been determined that the engine start request is present, is satisfied, and
• wherein the slip prediction determination threshold value is preset such that a period of time required to bring the second clutch into a slip state from a time when the difference between the driving torque of the motor and the transmitted torque capacity of the second clutch exceeds the slip prediction determination threshold value is identical to a period of time required to bring the first clutch into an engagement state from a time when an engagement command is outputted to the first clutch.