Control method for driving series mode of hybrid vehicle

A vehicle of controlling a driving series mode thereof, the vehicle comprising:

• an engine;
• a first motor configured for driving front wheels of the vehicle;
• a second motor configured for driving rear wheels of the vehicle;
• a third motor configured for power generation operation connected to the engine;
• and
• a controller electrically connected to the engine, the first motor, the second motor and the third motor,
• wherein the controller is configured for:
• determining whether to enter the series mode when the vehicle is driven;
• determining a first power consumption amount or a first energy efficiency according to driving of the first motor and the third motor, and a second power consumption amount or a second energy efficiency according to driving of the first motor and the second motor;
• and
• selecting and performing one of a first series mode that utilizes the driving of the first motor and the third motor or a second series mode that utilizes the driving of the first motor and the second motor by comparing the first power consumption amount and the second power consumption amount or comparing the first energy efficiency and the second energy efficiency,
• wherein the first series mode is that an energy storage device is charged by power generation operation of the third motor using an idling driving force of the engine and simultaneously the vehicle is driven by a driving force from the first motor with the engine clutch disengaged, and the second series mode is that the energy storage device is charged by power generation operation of the first motor using a driving force from the engine and simultaneously the vehicle is driven by a driving force from the second motor configured for driving the rear wheels with the engine clutch engaged, depending on an energy efficiency and a power consumption amount that are determined based on driver request power and charge power for the energy storage device.

A control method for driving series mode of a hybrid vehicle including an engine and a first motor configured for driving front wheels of the hybrid vehicle, an engine clutch disposed between the engine and the first motor, a second motor configured for driving rear wheels of the hybrid vehicle, and a third motor configured for power generation operation connected to the engine, the method comprising:

• determining, by a control unit, whether to enter the series mode when the hybrid vehicle is driven;
• determining, by the control unit, a first power consumption amount or a first energy efficiency according to driving of the first motor and the third motor, and a second power consumption amount or a second energy efficiency according to driving of the first motor and the second motor;
• and
• selecting and performing, by the control unit, one of a first series mode that utilizes the driving of the first motor and the third motor or a second series mode that utilizes the driving of the first motor and the second motor by comparing the first power consumption amount and the second power consumption amount or comparing the first energy efficiency and the second energy efficiency,
• wherein the hybrid control unit determines to perform the first series mode when the first power consumption amount, which is a value obtained by subtracting the charge power of the third motor from the driving power of the first motor, is smaller than the second power consumption amount, which is a value obtained by subtracting the charge power of the first motor from the driving power of the second motor, or when the first energy efficiency is higher than the second energy efficiency.