Electric generation control system for hybrid vehicle

An electric generation control system for use on a hybrid vehicle having a vehicle propelling apparatus including a battery and a propulsive electric motor energizable by the battery, and an electric energy generating apparatus including an engine and a generator actuatable by the engine, the generator being operable in a generator mode in which the generator is actuated by the engine to generate electric energy to be supplied to the battery and/or the propulsive electric motor while the vehicle propelling apparatus is in operation, said electric generation control system comprising:

• target generated output setting means for establishing a target generated output for the generator depending on an operating condition of the hybrid vehicle;
• intake air control valve control means for controlling the opening of an intake air control valve of the engine to enable the engine to produce a power output corresponding to said target generated output;
• generator control means for varying the electric energy generated by the generator to equalize the generated electric energy to said target generated output;
• and
• delay time estimating means for estimating a delay time until the engine produces the power output corresponding to said target generated output after the opening of the intake air control valve starts being varied by said intake air control valve control means depending on a change in said target generated output, according to a preset correlation between delay times and rotational speeds of the engine based on a present rotational speed of the engine;
• said generator control means comprising means for controlling the electric energy generated by the generator based on said target generated output upon elapse of said delay time after the opening of the intake air control valve starts being varied by said intake air control valve control means.