Hybrid vehicle controller

A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• an electric motor;
• a generator;
• a power splitter including a first driveline operably connected to said electric motor and a second driveline operably connected to said generator;
• and
• a controller for determining that the hybrid vehicle is in a motor drive mode, which includes said electric motor operating to propel said hybrid vehicle and said internal combustion engine resting, and controlling a torque generated by said generator such that a resultant torque applied to said crankshaft from outside said internal combustion engine is approximately zero.

A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including:

• an internal combustion engine and a motor, which are provided as power sources for driving traction wheels of the vehicle;
• a power splitter for splitting a crankshaft power of the internal combustion engine into two drivelines to drive the traction wheels of the vehicle using one of the drivelines;
• and a generator coupled to the other driveline of the power splitter, torque of the motor being allowed to act upon the one of the drivelines of the power splitter to drive the traction wheels of the vehicle during the operation of the motor, the method comprising:
• determining whether the vehicle is in a motor drive mode in which only the motor is used to drive the vehicle with the internal combustion engine at rest;
• and
• controlling the torque produced in the generator in such a manner that if it is determined that the vehicle is in the motor drive mode, the torque to act upon the crankshaft from outside the internal combustion engine is generally zero.