Hybrid vehicle controller

A hybrid vehicle controller for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including:

• an electric motor serving as a drive source;
• an engine serving as a drive source;
• a transmission shaft for transmitting drive power of the electric motor to a drive wheel;
• and a clutch operable to enable and disable transmission of drive power of the engine to the transmission shaft,
• the hybrid vehicle controller comprising a mode switching controller configured to, in response to a predetermined mode switching request, perform mode switching control for switching from a first travel mode where the engine is stopped and the drive wheel is driven by the drive power generated by the electric motor to a second travel mode where the drive wheel is driven by the drive power generated by the engine and the drive power generated by the electric motor, wherein
• the mode switching controller comprises a clutch controller configured to switch the clutch between a disengaged state in which the drive power of the engine is not transmitted to the transmission shaft and an engaged state in which the drive power of the engine is transmitted to the transmission shaft, and
• the clutch controller is further configured to:
• upon receiving the mode switching request, bring the clutch into a half-clutch state to start the engine using rotation of the transmission shaft, the half-clutch state being a state which occurs during transition from the disengaged state to the engaged state and in which the drive power of the engine is transmitted to the transmission shaft;
• and
• upon determining that the engine has started, shift the clutch from the half-clutch state to a stand-by state and subsequently shift the clutch to the engaged state, the stand-by state being a state which is intermediate between the half-clutch state and the disengaged state and in which the drive power of the engine is not transmitted to the transmission shaft.