Robust gasoline particulate filter control with full cylinder deactivation

A control method for a hybrid powertrain of a vehicle, the hybrid powertrain including an internal combustion gasoline engine with a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) and at least one electric propulsion motor, the control method comprising:

• determining, by a controller of the vehicle, a driver torque request indicative of an amount of drive torque to be collectively provided by the electric propulsion motor and the engine for propulsion of the vehicle;
• controlling, by the controller, the electric propulsion motor to satisfy the driver torque request;
• and
• shutting down, by the controller, the engine by:
• determining whether a regeneration event of the GPF is necessary based on a GPF loading model having an input of a period that the electric propulsion motor and not the engine has been satisfying the driver torque request;
• commanding a cylinder deactivation system to temporarily disable all of the cylinders of the engine and disabling fueling to the engine when the GPF regeneration event is not necessary;
• and
• commanding the cylinder deactivation system to keep all of the cylinders of the engine open and disabling fueling to the engine to increase oxygen levels at the GPF to improve passive regeneration of the GPF when the GPF regeneration event is necessary.