A control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a characteristic storage portion configured to store therein torque-characteristic information representing an output torque characteristic as a characteristic of an output torque of an engine of the vehicle, which has appeared in a certain control operation, such that the stored torque-characteristic information is divided into a plurality of groups corresponding to respective refueling points that provide the fuel; and a factor determination portion configured, when the output torque characteristic represented by the torque-characteristic information belonging to one of the plurality of groups and the output torque characteristic represented by the torque-characteristic information belonging to another one of the plurality of groups are different from each other and a characteristic difference therebetween is not smaller than a threshold value, to determine that the characteristic difference is caused by a difference in a property of the fuel.

Systems and methods described herein relate to managing the freshness of the fuel in a vehicle. One embodiment tracks a freshness level of the fuel in the vehicle as time passes; determines a fuel consumption plan based, at least in part, on a predetermined refueling schedule for the vehicle and the freshness level of the fuel in the vehicle; and activates an internal combustion engine of the vehicle automatically on one or more occasions in accordance with the fuel consumption plan to consume at least a portion of the fuel.

Systems and methods described herein relate to managing the freshness of the fuel in a vehicle. One embodiment tracks a freshness level of the fuel in the vehicle as time passes; determines a fuel consumption plan based, at least in part, on a predetermined refueling schedule for the vehicle and the freshness level of the fuel in the vehicle; and activates an internal combustion engine of the vehicle automatically on one or more occasions in accordance with the fuel consumption plan to consume at least a portion of the fuel.

Methods and systems are provided for estimating ethanol content in fuel and an age of the fuel in a vehicle engine. In one example, a method may include estimating fuel ethanol content and/or fuel age based on fuel temperature, a speed of sound in fuel, and an attenuation co-efficient of an ultrasonic signal in fuel. One or more engine operating parameters may be adjusted based on the estimated fuel ethanol content and fuel age.

A device for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes a storage storing a map in which an on reference value and an off reference value of an engine are recorded, a navigation device setting a route from a current location to a destination, a transceiver receiving a speed profile for each section on the route, and a controller dividing the route into a plurality of sections and correcting the map based on the received speed profile for each section to correct a map for determining an on time point and an off time point of an engine based on the speed profile most similar to the driving style of a driver.

A device for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes a storage storing a map in which an on reference value and an off reference value of an engine are recorded, a navigation device setting a route from a current location to a destination, a transceiver receiving a speed profile for each section on the route, and a controller dividing the route into a plurality of sections and correcting the map based on the received speed profile for each section to correct a map for determining an on time point and an off time point of an engine based on the speed profile most similar to the driving style of a driver.

A fuel maintenance guide system is provided in a hybrid vehicle in which a shift to a fuel maintenance mode prioritizing consumption of fuel is automatically performed under a predetermined condition regardless of a driver's intention. The fuel maintenance guide system includes an information notification unit configured to perform notification of information urging consumption of the fuel, and a control unit configured to estimate a time to shift automatically to the fuel maintenance mode and to begin to perform notifying actuation of the information notification unit a predetermined period of time before the estimated time.

A fuel maintenance guide system is provided in a hybrid vehicle in which a shift to a fuel maintenance mode prioritizing consumption of fuel is automatically performed under a predetermined condition regardless of a driver's intention. The fuel maintenance guide system includes an information notification unit configured to perform notification of information urging consumption of the fuel, and a control unit configured to estimate a time to shift automatically to the fuel maintenance mode and to begin to perform notifying actuation of the information notification unit a predetermined period of time before the estimated time.

A hybrid electric vehicle system comprises an internal combustion (IC) engine and an electric engine providing power to a drive shaft of the vehicle. The IC engine receives a fuel from a fuel tank. Exhaust gases from the IC engine are treated at an exhaust treatment apparatus including a reagent tank containing a reagent. A controller monitors a quality of the fuel in the fuel tank and the reagent in the reagent tank and if needed, initiates fuel degradation reduction event or a reagent degradation reduction event. These events can include running the IC engine even if a battery supplying power to the motor is not discharged. The fuel degradation reduction event includes dosing the fuel tank with an antioxidant to reduce the rate of degradation of the fuel.

A hybrid electric vehicle system comprises an internal combustion (IC) engine and an electric engine providing power to a drive shaft of the vehicle. The IC engine receives a fuel from a fuel tank. Exhaust gases from the IC engine are treated at an exhaust treatment apparatus including a reagent tank containing a reagent. A controller monitors a quality of the fuel in the fuel tank and the reagent in the reagent tank and if needed, initiates fuel degradation reduction event or a reagent degradation reduction event. These events can include running the IC engine even if a battery supplying power to the motor is not discharged. The fuel degradation reduction event includes dosing the fuel tank with an antioxidant to reduce the rate of degradation of the fuel.