A controller for a vehicle is configured to execute, when a state of charge of a battery is less than or equal to a threshold, a charging control to charge the battery with power that is generated by a motor generator using driving force of an internal combustion engine. The controller is also configured to obtain a temperature of the battery, set the threshold to a first threshold during a warm-up period, which is a period from a start of the internal combustion engine until the warm-up of the internal combustion engine is completed, set the threshold to a second threshold, which is greater than the first threshold, when the warm-up period ends, and set the second threshold to be greater when the temperature of the battery is a first temperature than when the temperature of the battery is a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature.

When a vehicle is in a traveling state having a low necessity to quickly increase required traveling torque, high-rotational-speed engine starting unit that reduces an emission amount of particulate matter emitted during engine starting starts the engine. Since quick torque response is not required when the vehicle is in the traveling state having the low necessity to quickly increase the required traveling torque, the high-rotational-speed engine starting unit starts the engine, so that increase of the emission amount of particulate matter emitted during engine starting can be curbed.

When a vehicle is in a traveling state having a low necessity to quickly increase required traveling torque, high-rotational-speed engine starting unit that reduces an emission amount of particulate matter emitted during engine starting starts the engine. Since quick torque response is not required when the vehicle is in the traveling state having the low necessity to quickly increase the required traveling torque, the high-rotational-speed engine starting unit starts the engine, so that increase of the emission amount of particulate matter emitted during engine starting can be curbed.

A method for controlling operation of a vehicle. The method includes: providing information on geographical position of a first (starting) location and a second (destination) location and on length and topography for at least one possible route to be taken by the vehicle from the first location to the second location; calculating, based on vehicle conditions and on length and topography for the at least one possible route, a plan for how to control the powertrain system to achieve an energy efficient performance of the powertrain system if driving the vehicle along said at least one possible route. The method further includes: setting the vehicle in a non-drive off mode that prevents the vehicle from driving off from the first location, and setting the vehicle in a normal operation mode that allows drive off from the first location when calculating the plan has been carried out.

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine equipped with a filter that removes particulate matter in an exhaust system, a motor for traveling, an electric power storage device that exchanges electric power with the motor, and a control device that controls the engine and the motor. The control device stops, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, rotation of the engine and inhibits, when a filter temperature as a temperature of the filter is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the rotation stop of the engine regardless of whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied.

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine equipped with a filter that removes particulate matter in an exhaust system, a motor for traveling, an electric power storage device that exchanges electric power with the motor, and a control device that controls the engine and the motor. The control device stops, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, rotation of the engine and inhibits, when a filter temperature as a temperature of the filter is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the rotation stop of the engine regardless of whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied.

An aftertreatment device of a vehicle exhaust system includes an aftertreatment device. The aftertreatment device includes a body defining an inlet cone, an outlet cone, and a cavity therebetween. A heating element is disposed in the cavity. A catalyst is disposed in the cavity downstream of the heating element. A recirculation loop has a conduit with a first end connected to the outlet cone and a second end connected to the inlet cone. The recirculation loop further has an air-circulation device configured to recirculate heated air from the outlet cone to the inlet cone.

An aftertreatment device of a vehicle exhaust system includes an aftertreatment device. The aftertreatment device includes a body defining an inlet cone, an outlet cone, and a cavity therebetween. A heating element is disposed in the cavity. A catalyst is disposed in the cavity downstream of the heating element. A recirculation loop has a conduit with a first end connected to the outlet cone and a second end connected to the inlet cone. The recirculation loop further has an air-circulation device configured to recirculate heated air from the outlet cone to the inlet cone.

A hybrid vehicle includes a multi-cylinder engine, an exhaust gas control apparatus, an electric motor, an electricity storage device, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the electric motor so as to cover a driving power shortage resulting from execution of catalyst temperature raising control. The catalyst temperature raising control is control that involves stopping fuel supply to at least one of cylinders of the multi-cylinder engine and enriching air-fuel ratios for the other cylinders than the at least one cylinder.

A hybrid vehicle includes a multi-cylinder engine, an exhaust gas control apparatus including a catalyst for removing exhaust gas from the multi-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a control device configured to execute catalyst temperature increase control for stopping fuel supply to at least one cylinder and making an air-fuel ratio in each of remaining cylinders rich in a case where a temperature increase of a catalyst is requested during a load operation of the multi-cylinder engine, execute control such that an electric motor supplements insufficient drive power due to the execution of the catalyst temperature increase control, and change the air-fuel ratio in at least one of the remaining cylinders to a lean side after a temperature of the exhaust gas control apparatus becomes equal to or higher than a determination threshold value during the execution of the catalyst temperature increase control.