Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and an electric motor disposed therein, the electric motor having both driving and power-generating functions and being directly connected to the engine mounted on the hybrid vehicle, comprising:

• a main battery which supplies driving electric power to said electric motor and is charged by generated electric power from power-generation driving of said electric motor;
• a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the main battery;
• and
• a controller that controls to prohibit power-generation driving of said electric motor to charge said main battery when the main battery temperature detected by said temperature sensor is less than a set temperature, when said electric motor is power-generation driving to charge said main battery, when an open-circuit voltage value of said main battery exceeds a set voltage value, and then, when a generated electric power value of said electric motor is less than a set electric power value, wherein said controller sets both first and second predetermined set time periods for a continuation time of the power-generation driving prohibition of said electric motor, and when the open-circuit voltage value of said main battery becomes less than the canceling voltage value that is lower than the set voltage value within the first set time period during the power-generation driving prohibition of said electric motor, then said controller controls to cancel the power-generation driving prohibition of said electric motor, and when an open-circuit voltage value of said main battery becomes less than a canceling voltage value within the second set time period that is longer than the first set time period, then after said second set time period passes, said controller controls to cancel the power-generation driving prohibition of said electric motor, meanwhile, when the open-circuit voltage value of said main battery does not become less than the canceling voltage value within the second set time period, then after the open-circuit voltage value has become less than the canceling voltage value, said controller controls to cancel the power-generation driving prohibition of said electric motor.

A hybrid vehicle comprising:

• an engine;
• an electric motor directly connected to the engine, the electric motor having both driving and power generating functions;
• a main battery that supplies driving electric power to and is charged by generated electric power from said electric motor;
• a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of said main battery;
• a controller that provides a power generation prohibition preventing said electric motor from charging said main battery when:
• 1) the main battery temperature is less than a set temperature;
• 2) said electric motor is power generating to charge said main battery;
• 3) a measured open-circuit voltage value of said main battery is greater than a set open-circuit voltage value;
• and 4) an electric power value generated by said electric motor is less than a set electric power value.