Method and apparatus for controlling plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

An apparatus for controlling a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

• a data detector configured to detect data for operating the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle;
• a user interface unit configured to provide an interface to receive user input;
• and
• a controller configured to be executed by a predetermined program to operate the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle based on signals input from the data detector and the user interface unit, wherein the predetermined program includes a series of commands for performing a method for operating the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising:
• setting, by the controller, an initial distance until charge (DUC);
• calculating, by the controller, a current DUC by subtracting a travel distance of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle from the initial DUC after the initial DUC is set;
• calculating, by the controller, a current distance to empty (DTE) based on a current state of charge (SOC) of a battery;
• comparing, by the controller, the current SOC of the battery with a reference SOC;
• comparing, by the controller, the current DUC with the current DTE when the current SOC is greater than the reference SOC;
• determining, by the controller, whether a high speed condition or a high load condition is satisfied when the current DUC is greater than the current DTE;
• and
• setting, by the controller, a driving mode of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to be a charge sustaining (CS) mode when the high speed condition or the high load condition is satisfied.

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions executed by a controller, the computer readable medium comprising:

• program instructions that set an initial distance until charge (DUC);
• program instructions that calculate a current DUC by subtracting a travel distance of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle from the initial DUC after the initial DUC is set;
• program instructions that calculate a current distance to empty (DTE) based on a current state of charge (SOC) of a battery;
• program instructions that compare the current SOC of the battery with a reference SOC;
• program instructions that compare the current DUC with the current DTE when the current SOC is greater than the reference SOC;
• program instructions that determine whether a high speed condition or a high load condition is satisfied when the current DUC is greater than the current DTE;
• and
• program instructions that set a driving mode of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to be a charge sustaining (CS) mode when the high speed condition or the high load condition is satisfied.