Disclosed are a hybrid electric vehicle, which is capable of controlling engine starting in consideration of entry into a specific area, and method of controlling the same. A method of controlling engine starting of a hybrid vehicle includes determining whether catalyst heating is necessary, determining whether a current location corresponds to a specific area associated with exhaust emissions, determining whether a first mode driving is possible, when it is determined that the current position corresponds to the specific area and the catalyst heating is necessary, and performing the first mode driving when the first mode driving is determined to be possible, or a second mode driving when the first mode driving is determined to be impossible. Here, the first mode driving is performed by using an electric motor, and the second mode driving is performed by using at least an engine.

An exhaust gas system (1) has a main flow path (2) with an exhaust gas aftertreatment device (4), and a bypass flow path (3) that has a fan (5) and a heating apparatus (6). The bypass flow path (3) has opposite ends connected to the main flow path (2) in regions upstream and downstream of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device (4). A shut-off (7) is arranged in the main flow path (2) upstream of the bypass flow path, and a further shut-off (8) is arranged in the main flow path downstream of the bypass flow path.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods include a stop/start module in operative communication with an engine. The stop/start module is configured to determine a target start/stop ratio for an engine based on an operating parameter, determine an actual start/stop ratio for the engine based on a determined number of times that the engine is turned off in response to a determined number of stopping events, activate an inhibiting condition in response to the actual stop ratio being greater than the target stop ratio at a beginning of a driving event, and prevent the engine from turning off during a stop event in response to determining that the inhibiting condition is active and that a stopping event has occurred.

A controller includes an engine controlling section and a motor-generator controlling section. The controller is configured to use the engine controlling section and the motor-generator controlling section to execute an intermittent stop control, a temperature increase control, an intermittent stop prohibition control, and a motoring control. The intermittent stop control automatically stops and restarts operation of an internal combustion engine. The temperature increase control increases the temperature of a filter in the exhaust passage to a temperature at which PM can be burned. The intermittent stop prohibition control prohibits stop of the operation of the internal combustion engine by the intermittent stop control until the temperature increase control is completed. The motoring control drives the output shaft of the internal combustion engine by the motor-generator, thereby forcibly rotating the internal combustion engine.

Methods and systems are provided for drying a wet-fouled spark plug during engine flooding conditions. In one example, a method may include, reverse rotating the engine unfueled and activating a heating element of an exhaust catalyst to flow heated ambient air through the combustion chamber to dry the wet-fouled spark plug.

Methods and systems are provided for relieving pressure from a compression locked engine. The engine may be compression locked during an engine start attempt due to operator application of a manual transmission clutch at or around the time of a first combustion event of the engine start. A direct injector of the compression locked cylinder is commanded open to relieve the pressure into the fuel rail.

Methods and systems are provided for relieving pressure from a compression locked engine. The engine may be compression locked during an engine start attempt due to operator application of a manual transmission clutch at or around the time of a first combustion event of the engine start. A direct injector of the compression locked cylinder is commanded open to relieve the pressure into the fuel rail.

A method for operating a hybrid motor vehicle. In one example, the vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine (10) and at least one electric motor (20). As long as at least one parameter of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system (12) of the internal combustion engine (10) lies outside a given range, the starting of the internal combustion engine (10) is delayed and the internal combustion engine (10) is dragged by the electric motor (20). At the same time at least one measure is carried out which changes the parameter.

A method of controlling a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle including an electric propulsion system, an engine, and a catalytic converter associated with the engine, the method comprising: monitoring a state of charge of a battery of the vehicle when in a charge depletion mode; determining a rate of depletion of the state of charge; estimating from the rate of depletion a duration of a depletion period representing the time remaining until a minimum state of charge of the battery will be reached; determining a duration of a warming period of the catalytic converter; comparing the duration of the depletion period and the duration of the warming period; and activating the engine if the duration of the depletion period is less than or equal to the duration of the warming period.

The hybrid vehicle is provide with the control device configured to permit fuel cutoff of the engine when the SOC of the power storage device is greater than a first predetermined ratio, an amount of particulate matter deposited on the filter is less than a first predetermined amount, or a temperature of the filter is lower than a predetermined temperature. The control device is configured to set the allowable upper-limit ratio of the SOC: to a second predetermined ratio greater than the first predetermined ratio when the PM amount is less than a second predetermined amount less than the first predetermined amount, and to a third predetermined ratio equal to or less than the first predetermined ratio when the PM amount is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount.