A method may include distributing target torque to target engine torque of an engine and target motor torque of a motor according to a predetermined control logic according to driver demand torque, comparing torques which determines whether actual torques of the engine and the motor are smaller than the target engine torque and the target motor torque, comparing whether a time period during which a state where a state where the torque of the engine or the motor is insufficient is maintained is a predetermined reference time or more, determining that any one of the engine and the motor is failed, when the time during which a state where the state where the torque of the engine or the motor is insufficient is maintained is the reference time or more, and controlling limp-home which limits the target engine torque of the engine, the target motor torque of the motor, and the regenerative braking amount of the motor.

A method is provided for controlling a hybrid vehicle in an emergency situation. The hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a rechargeable electric energy storage system, and an electrical motor drive system. The method includes detecting a failure of a control unit for controlling the electrical motor drive system, disconnecting the rechargeable electric energy storage system from the hybrid vehicle, limiting the maximum speed of the internal combustion engine from a first RPM value to a second RPM value. An apparatus is also provided for controlling a hybrid vehicle in an emergency situation.

A method is provided for controlling a hybrid vehicle in an emergency situation. The hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a rechargeable electric energy storage system, and an electrical motor drive system. The method includes detecting a failure of a control unit for controlling the electrical motor drive system, disconnecting the rechargeable electric energy storage system from the hybrid vehicle, limiting the maximum speed of the internal combustion engine from a first RPM value to a second RPM value. An apparatus is also provided for controlling a hybrid vehicle in an emergency situation.

A method for limiting an engine torque when a failure occurs in a water sensor of a fuel filter includes sensing the failure of the water sensor installed in the fuel filter through a failure diagnosis logic in a diesel hybrid vehicle. A current vehicle driving mode is checked when the failure of the water sensor is sensed. Whether or not a first time period elapses a first delay time after sensing the failure of the water sensor when the current vehicle driving mode is an engine driving mode is determined. The engine torque is limited and reduced when the first time period elapses the first delay time.

A method for limiting an engine torque when a failure occurs in a water sensor of a fuel filter includes sensing the failure of the water sensor installed in the fuel filter through a failure diagnosis logic in a diesel hybrid vehicle. A current vehicle driving mode is checked when the failure of the water sensor is sensed. Whether or not a first time period elapses a first delay time after sensing the failure of the water sensor when the current vehicle driving mode is an engine driving mode is determined. The engine torque is limited and reduced when the first time period elapses the first delay time.

A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electrical storage device, a rotary electric machine, and a controller. The internal combustion engine includes a variable valve actuating device. The variable valve actuating device is configured to change an operation characteristic of an intake valve. The electrical storage device is configured to be charged. The rotary electric machine is configured to generate driving force for propelling the hybrid vehicle by using electric power that is supplied from the electrical storage device. The controller is configured to cause the hybrid vehicle to travel in a selected one of a charge sustaining mode and a charge depleting mode. The charge sustaining mode is a mode in which a state of charge of the electrical storage device is kept within a predetermined range. The charge depleting mode is a mode in which consumption of the state of charge is given a higher priority as compared to the charge sustaining mode. The controller is configured to change a switching condition for switching from the charge depleting mode to the charge sustaining mode such that a first state of charge is higher than a second state of charge. The first state of charge is an state of charge at which the controller switches from the charge depleting mode to the charge sustaining mode at the time when the operation characteristic of the intake valve is unchangeable to a desired operation characteristic. The second state of charge is an state of charge at which the controller switches from the charge depleting mode to the charge sustaining mode at the time when the operation characteristic of the intake valve is changeable to a desired operation characteristic.

In a hybrid automobile in which a first motor, an engine, and a drive shaft coupled to an axle are connected respectively to a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear of a planetary gear set and a second motor is connected to the drive shaft, during a predetermined travel period in which the engine is operative and respective gates of a first inverter and a second inverter used to drive the first motor and the second motor are both blocked, the engine is controlled such that the first motor rotates at a predetermined rotation speed, and a boost converter is controlled such that a voltage of a drive voltage system power line reaches a target voltage corresponding to an accelerator depression amount.

In a hybrid automobile in which a first motor, an engine, and a drive shaft coupled to an axle are connected respectively to a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear of a planetary gear set and a second motor is connected to the drive shaft, during a predetermined travel period in which the engine is operative and respective gates of a first inverter and a second inverter used to drive the first motor and the second motor are both blocked, the engine is controlled such that the first motor rotates at a predetermined rotation speed, and a boost converter is controlled such that a voltage of a drive voltage system power line reaches a target voltage corresponding to an accelerator depression amount.

In a hybrid vehicle including a front motor for driving front wheels, a rear motor for driving rear wheels, a generator for generating power by being driven by an internal combustion engine, and a step-up converter for stepping up the voltage from a battery and supplying power to the front motor, while stepping-down the generated power of the generator and supplying the power to the rear motor, a hybrid control unit decreases the power supplied from the generator to the rear motor, and increases the power supplied from the battery to the rear motor when input power of the step-up converter is limited based on a temperature condition of the step-up converter.

A power controller of a hybrid vehicle includes: a first drive motor that drives any one of a front wheel and a rear wheel of a vehicle; an engine that drives the one wheel or the corresponding other one of the front wheel and the rear wheel of the vehicle through a clutch; a generator that is driven by the engine; and a voltage transformer that steps down generated electric power supplied to the first drive motor and a battery from the generator. The power controller limits passing power of the voltage transformer according to the temperature of the voltage transformer, and connects the clutch when the passing power of the voltage transformer is limited.