Engine shutoff profile for hybrid vehicle gasoline particulate filter regeneration

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• one or more electric traction motors configured to provide drive torque to one or more vehicle axles;
• 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;
• an exhaust aftertreatment system having a gasoline particulate filter (GPF);
• and
• a control system including a controller for monitoring and performing a regeneration operation of the GPF, wherein the controller is programmed to:
• determine the GPF needs to be regenerated;
• determine if a temperature of the GPF meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold indicating a GPF regeneration can occur;
• and
• upon an engine shutdown event, if the temperature meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold, gradually spin down a speed of the internal combustion engine in fuel shut-off to generate a flow of air to the GPF to initiate a GPF regeneration.