Motor vehicle controller and method of controlling a motor vehicle

A vehicle comprising a controller operable automatically to stop and subsequently to restart an engine of the vehicle according to a prescribed control methodology,

• wherein the controller is operable automatically to adjust an engine stop delay parameter in dependence on the value of at least one vehicle endurance parameter, the engine stop delay parameter corresponding to a period for which the engine of the vehicle remains switched on when it is determined that a condition exists allowing the engine to be switched off during the course of a drive cycle, and the value of the endurance parameter being responsive to stop/start operations being performed during the course of a drive cycle;
• wherein the controller is operable to adjust the engine stop delay parameter to prevent the value of the endurance parameter exceeding a prescribed maximum endurance value before a prescribed time period elapses.

A hybrid electric vehicle controller operable to control propulsion of a hybrid vehicle by a combustion engine or by electrically powered means or by both, the controller being operable automatically to activate and/or deactivate the combustion engine during the course of a drive cycle according to a prescribed control methodology,

• wherein the controller is operable to change the activation state of the combustion engine in dependence on the value of at least one vehicle endurance parameter, the value of the at least one vehicle endurance parameter being responsive to the activation state of the combustion engine, thereby to prevent the value of the endurance parameter exceeding a prescribed maximum endurance value before a prescribed time period elapses.

A hybrid electric vehicle comprising a controller operable to control propulsion of a hybrid vehicle by a combustion engine or by electrically powered means or by both, the controller being operable automatically to activate and/or deactivate the combustion engine during the course of a drive cycle according to a prescribed control methodology,

• wherein the controller is operable to change the activation state of the combustion engine in dependence on the value of at least one vehicle endurance parameter, the value of the at least one vehicle endurance parameter being responsive to the activation state of the combustion engine, thereby to prevent the value of the endurance parameter exceeding a prescribed maximum endurance value before a prescribed time period elapses.

A method of controlling a motor vehicle comprising automatically stopping and subsequently restarting an engine of the vehicle according to a prescribed control methodology, the method comprising;

• adjusting an engine stop delay parameter in dependence on the value of at least one vehicle endurance parameter, the engine stop delay parameter corresponding to a period for which the engine of the vehicle remains switched on when it is determined that a condition exists allowing the engine to be switched off during the course of a drive cycle, and the value of the endurance parameter being responsive to stop/start operations being performed during the course of a drive cycle;
• and
• adjusting the engine stop delay parameter to prevent the value of the endurance parameter exceeding a prescribed maximum endurance value before a prescribed time period elapses.

A method of controlling propulsion of a hybrid electric vehicle by a combustion engine or by electrically powered means or by both, the method comprising automatically activating and/or deactivating the combustion engine during the course of a drive cycle according to a prescribed control methodology;

• and
• changing the activation state of the combustion engine in dependence on the value of at least one vehicle endurance parameter, the value of the at least one vehicle endurance parameter being responsive to the activation state of the combustion engine, thereby to prevent the value of the endurance parameter exceeding a prescribed maximum endurance value before a prescribed time period elapses.

(canceled)