Controller for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

A controller for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, wherein

• the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes:
• an engine and a motor-generator that are power sources for driving drive wheels;
• a battery cell that supplies electric power to the motor-generator, and stores electric energy generated by the motor-generator using output of the engine;
• and
• a connection port configured to electrically connect an external charging and discharging device and the battery cell,
• the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is configured to participate in a demand response by being electrically connected to the charging and discharging device,
• the controller comprises processing circuitry,
• the processing circuitry is configured to
• acquire a travel route to a destination where the charging and discharging device is provided;
• acquire an expected time of arrival at the destination;
• acquire a first amount of electrical energy that is an amount of electrical energy stored in the battery cell;
• acquire a second amount of electrical energy that is an amount of electrical energy required for the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to participate in the demand response;
• predict whether the first amount of electrical energy at the time of arrival at the destination will be less than the second amount of electrical energy using the acquired travel route, the estimated arrival time, the first amount of electrical energy, and the second amount of electrical energy;
• and
• when predicting that the first amount of electrical energy at the time of arrival at the destination will be less than the second amount of electrical energy, execute a power reserve control to increase opportunities to operate the engine such that the first amount of electrical energy at the time of arrival at the destination will be greater than or equal to the second amount of electrical energy.