Controller for hybrid vehicle

A controller for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including an engine, a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a power split mechanism, and a selectable one-way clutch, the second electric motor being disposed on an axis different from an axis of the engine, the second electric motor being connected to an output shaft of driving wheels of the hybrid vehicle to output a power to the output shaft, the power split mechanism including a carrier, a ring gear, and a sun gear, the carrier being connected to the engine, the sun gear being connected to the first electric motor, the ring gear being connected to the output shaft to output a torque to the output shaft, the power split mechanism being configured to split a power output from the engine to the first electric motor side and the output shaft side, the selectable one-way clutch being configured to selectively switch between an engaged state in which an unlocked state in which rotation in a predetermined one direction is permitted and a locked state in which rotation in the opposite direction to the predetermined one direction is prohibited occur and a disengaged state in which rotation in the predetermined one direction and the opposite direction are permitted, the selectable one-way clutch being disposed to be connected to a power transmission path between the first electric motor and the carrier or the between first electric motor and a fixed portion, the hybrid vehicle being configured to increase and transmit a rotation speed of the engine to the output shaft to drive the output shaft in an overdrive state when the selectable one-way clutch is in the engaged state, the controller comprising:

• an electronic control unit configured to control the first electric motor such that an engine brake equivalent torque with a magnitude sufficient to maintain the locked state of the selectable one-way clutch is output in a direction opposite to a direction of a negative torque which is generated in the engine when the hybrid vehicle travels in a state in which supply of fuel to the engine is stopped in the overdrive state.