Hybrid vehicle, control method for hybrid vehicle, and recording medium recorded with a control program for hybrid vehicle

A control method for a hybrid vehicle comprising the steps of:

• providing an external power supply and a hybrid vehicle configured to allow charging from the external power supply, the hybrid vehicle including a power storage device, a connector unit configured to electrically connect said power storage device with said external power supply, an absorption unit configured to absorb fuel vapor, the absorption unit includes a canister storing an adsorbent to which said fuel vapor adheres, an activation unit configured to activate said absorption unit to facilitate disengagement of said fuel vapor with power received from said external power supply during connection of said power storage device with said external power supply by said connector unit, the activation unit includes a heater receiving electric power from at least one of said power storage device and said external power supply to heat said canister, a purge mechanism configured to conduct a purge relative to said canister, the purge mechanism includes an internal combustion engine generating negative pressure;
• and a control device configured to control said heater and said purge mechanism, the control device operates said heater in advance prior to starting said internal combustion engine when determination is made that starting of said internal combustion engine is required at a next startup of the vehicle;
• charging said power storage device with electric power from said external power supply,
• operating said activation unit by the electric power applied from said external power supply,
• operating said purge mechanism after an operation of said activation unit is initiated,
• determining whether starting of said internal combustion engine is required at a next startup of the vehicle, and
• operating said heater in advance prior to starting said internal combustion engine when determination is made that starting of said internal combustion engine is required at a next startup of the vehicle.

A control method for a hybrid vehicle comprising the steps of:

• connecting an external power supply and the hybrid vehicle configured to allow charging from the external power supply, the hybrid vehicle including a power storage device, a connector unit electrically connecting said power storage device with said external power supply;
• absorbing fuel vapor in an absorption unit that includes a canister storing an absorbent to which fuel vapor adheres;
• activating the absorption step with a heater for receiving electric power from at least one of said power storage device and said external power supply to heat said canister in order to facilitate disengagement of said fuel vapor with power received from said external power supply during connection of said power storage device with said external power supply;
• conducting a purge relative to said canister where an internal combustion engine generates a negative pressure;
• controlling said heater and said purge mechanism where the heater may be operated in advance prior to starting said internal combustion engine;
• charging said power storage device with electric power from said external power supply;
• operating said purge step after an operation of said activation step is initiated;
• determining whether starting of said internal combustion engine is required at a next startup of the vehicle;
• and
• operating said heater in advance prior to starting said internal combustion engine when determination is made that starting of said internal combustion engine is required at a next startup of the vehicle.