Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle having an engine, a motor, a first engagement element arranged between the engine and the motor for connecting/disconnecting the engine and the motor and a second engagement element arranged between the motor and driving wheels for connecting/disconnecting the motor and the driving wheels, the control apparatus comprising:

• a drive mode change section that changes the following drive modes according to a vehicle travel state:
• a first drive mode in which the first engagement element is disengaged and the second engagement element is engaged then the vehicle travels by only a driving force of the motor,
• a second drive mode in which the first and second engagement elements are respectively engaged then the vehicle travels by both driving forces of the engine and the motor, and
• a third drive mode in which the second engagement element is slip-engaged then the vehicle travels by a driving force transmitted through the second engagement element;
• a temperature detection section that detects a temperature of the second engagement element;
• and
• a second engagement element protection control section that keeps an engine rotating state regardless of the drive mode when the temperature of the second engagement element is a predetermined temperature or higher.