Hybrid vehicle gasoline particulate filter regeneration

A method of operating a series hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) having one or more electric traction motors configured to provide drive torque to one or more vehicle axles, an internal combustion engine, a motor/generator configured to drive the internal combustion engine or be driven by the internal combustion engine to generate electricity to charge a high voltage battery and/or drive the one or more electric traction motors, and an exhaust aftertreatment system having a gasoline particulate filter (GPF), the method comprising:

• determining, by a controller having one or more processors, if the GPF needs to be regenerated;
• determining, by the controller, if a temperature of the GPF meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold indicating a GPF regeneration can occur;
• if the GPF temperature does not meet or exceed the predetermined threshold, loading the engine via the motor/generator to increase an exhaust gas temperature to heat the GPF to the predetermined threshold;
• and
• if the temperature meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold, operating, by the controller and the motor/generator, the internal combustion engine in fuel shut-off to generate a flow of air to the GPF to initiate the GPF regeneration.