Control device of hybrid vehicle, and control method of hybrid vehicle

A control method of a hybrid vehicle having an engine and an electric motor as power sources, being capable of series hybrid driving and engine direct driving using the engine and the electric motor, and having a NOx purification system using an SCR catalyst and an LNT catalyst in an exhaust passage of the engine, the control method comprising:

• a first step of detecting an abnormality in the NOx purification system related to the LNT catalyst;
• and
• a second step of prohibiting the engine direct driving as a driving mode of the vehicle, limiting the driving mode to the series hybrid driving, and driving the engine at an approximately constant engine output such that the engine output is equal to or greater than a predetermined value within an output range in which NOx emission from the engine does not exceed NOx purification possible amount of the NOx purification system using the SCR catalyst, the second step being performed when the abnormality is detected in the first step.