Battery state of charge control using route preview data

A vehicle comprising:

• a navigation system configured to provide predicted speed and grade profiles;
• a traction battery;
• an engine;
• and
• a controller programmed to (i) generate engine commands including engine off requests and commands permissive of engine off requests, and, in response to a first engine cycling command based on the profiles being an engine off request and a second engine cycling command derived independent of the profiles being permissive of engine off requests while the engine is on, cause the engine to transition to off and (ii) generate a target state of charge for the traction battery based on the profiles and a base battery power reference independent of the profiles, and, in response to the first engine cycling command defining at least a predetermined number of engine cycles over a route, charge and discharge the traction battery based on the target state of charge and the base battery power reference.