Control apparatus for automatically stopping and restarting an engine

A control apparatus for automatically stopping and restarting an engine of a vehicle, which is equipped with the engine, a motor, a compressor driven by the engine and motor, an air conditioner employing a refrigerating cycle driven by the compressor and a motor control unit that controls the motor so as to drive the compressor at least while the engine is stopped, the apparatus comprising:

• a first section for making a judgment on stopping the engine;
• and
• a second section for making a judgment on restarting the engine,
• wherein the apparatus provides the air conditioner with a plurality of operational modes selected by a user, and
• wherein when the vehicle is not in motion with selection of a first mode, the first section permits the engine to stop if a first power that the motor can supply is greater than a second power of the compressor required by the air conditioner and the second section permits the engine to restart if the second power exceeds the first power.