Vehicle control device and method

A vehicle control device, comprising:

• a processor;
• a sensor;
• a battery;
• and
• a memory,
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• predict a change in speed of a vehicle based on a route of the vehicle, and map information received from an external server, while driving the vehicle;
• divide the route of the vehicle into a plurality of partial routes, using the change in speed of the vehicle;
• obtain state of charge (SOC) information of the battery in each partial route of the plurality of partial routes, wherein the SOC information changes based on the change in speed of the vehicle;
• obtain ratio information between a transit time when the vehicle passes through each partial route and a driving time of the vehicle based on a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode in each partial route, using the SOC information, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the ratio information from the map information, in a first layer including a dynamic programming algorithm and associated with global path planning;
• predict acceleration of the vehicle, in a partial route in which the vehicle is located among the plurality of partial routes, using the sensor;
• obtain fuel consumption information for minimizing fuel consumed while the vehicle is traveling along the route, in the partial route in which the vehicle is located, using acceleration information indicating the predicted acceleration of the vehicle and the ratio information, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the fuel consumption information, using the ratio information obtained in the first layer, in a second layer including at least one of an acceleration prediction model, a vehicle required power model, or a vehicle control model, and associated with local path planning;
• and
• control an operation of at least one of a motor or an engine of the vehicle along the route, based on a mode for minimizing an amount of increase in fuel compared to an amount of increase in SOC between an electric vehicle (EV) mode or the HEV mode, using the fuel consumption information.