JP7768098B2 - Hybrid Electric Vehicle - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to hybrid electric vehicles.

Patent Document 1 discloses a control device for a hybrid vehicle. This control device controls vehicle driving so as to ensure the battery state of charge (SOC) required for electric driving in an EV driving section (specific section) included in the driving route.

JP 2014-213638 A

It is conceivable to notify the user when the vehicle enters a "special section" where the operation of the internal combustion engine is restricted. However, if notifications are sent every time the vehicle enters a special section without special consideration, there is a risk that the user will not be able to fully enjoy the benefits of the notifications, such as receiving notifications even when the vehicle has not switched to electric driving.

This disclosure was made in consideration of the above-mentioned issues, and its purpose is to enable a hybrid electric vehicle that has a specific section set on its planned driving route to more effectively notify the user when entering that specific section.

A hybrid electric vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a powertrain, a battery, a control device, and a notification device. The powertrain is configured to perform hybrid driving and power generation through cooperation between an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors, and electric driving using one or more electric motors without operating the internal combustion engine. The battery exchanges electric power with the powertrain. The control device is configured to execute driving switching control to switch between electric driving and hybrid driving so that a remaining battery charge sufficient for driving the specific section by electric driving is secured before entering the specific section, when the specific section is included on the planned driving route to the destination and the specific section is included in a specific area where driving of the hybrid electric vehicle involving operation of the internal combustion engine is restricted. The notification device is configured to issue an entry notification to notify a user of the hybrid electric vehicle's entry into the specific section when the hybrid electric vehicle enters the specific section. The notification device issues the entry notification when the hybrid electric vehicle enters the specific section while the driving switching control is being executed, but does not issue the entry notification when the hybrid electric vehicle enters the specific section while the driving switching control is not being executed.

The notification device may be configured to issue an entry notification when the hybrid electric vehicle enters a specific section while traveling on a road along the planned traveling route while the traveling switching control is being executed, and not to issue an entry notification when the hybrid electric vehicle enters the specific section within a specific area that includes the specific section.

When the conditions for executing driving switching control are met, the notification device may be configured to issue an entry notification for entry into a specific section after passing through a non-specific section that does not fall under the specific section, and not to issue an entry notification for entry into a specific section that does not pass through a non-specific section.

According to the present disclosure, a notification of entry into a specific section is issued when a hybrid electric vehicle enters a specific section while driving switching control is being executed. This allows the user (e.g., the driver) to realize that driving switching control is being executed while driving, compared to an example in which an entry notification is issued each time a specific section is entered, regardless of whether driving switching control is being executed. In this way, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to more effectively notify the user of entry into a specific section.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a hybrid electric vehicle according to an embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams used to explain additional issues B and C relating to entry notification, respectively. FIG. 10 is a diagram used to explain an additional problem C related to entry notification. 4 is a flowchart showing a process related to vehicle driving control and entry notification according to the embodiment;

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1. Example Configuration of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Fig. 1 is a diagram that schematically shows the configuration of a hybrid electric vehicle 1 according to an embodiment. The hybrid electric vehicle 1 includes a powertrain 10, a control device 20, and an HMI (Human Machine Interface) device 30. The control device 20 includes a vehicle control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 22 and a navigation ECU (Navi ECU) 24.

The powertrain 10 includes an internal combustion engine 12, one or more (e.g., two) electric motors 14, and a battery 16. The powertrain 10 is configured to perform hybrid driving (HEV driving) and power generation through cooperation between the internal combustion engine 12 and the electric motors 14, and electric driving (BEV driving) performed by the electric motors 14 without operating the internal combustion engine 12. The battery 16 exchanges power with the powertrain 10 (more specifically, the electric motors 14). Specifically, the battery 16 is charged by power generated by the electric motors 14 and discharged by power consumed by the electric motors 14. The hybrid system of the vehicle 1 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a series-parallel system, a parallel system, or a series system. More specifically, the vehicle 1 is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) capable of external charging, but does not necessarily have to be configured for external charging.

The vehicle control ECU 22 includes a processor and a storage device. The vehicle control ECU 22 receives sensor signals from sensors 26 attached to the vehicle 1 and outputs operation signals to the powertrain 10. The storage device stores various control programs for controlling the powertrain 10. The processor reads and executes the control programs from the storage device, thereby realizing various controls related to the powertrain 10. The sensors 26 include various sensors used to control the powertrain 10, such as a vehicle speed sensor and a battery remaining capacity sensor. The battery remaining capacity sensor detects the remaining capacity of the battery 16 (remaining battery capacity). In the following description, the remaining battery capacity is also referred to as SOC (State Of Charge).

The navigation ECU 24 is equipped with a processor and a storage device. The navigation ECU 24 is configured to be able to communicate with external systems via a wireless communication network, and can acquire various data from the external systems.

For example, the navigation ECU 24 acquires the current location of the vehicle 1 using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Furthermore, the navigation ECU 24 can determine the current location of the vehicle 1 on a map by acquiring map information, for example, from an external server. The map information here includes information regarding specific SAs (Safety Areas) where travel by the vehicle 1 operating the internal combustion engine 12 is restricted, as well as geographical information (e.g., speed limits, distances, and road types). A specific SA is, for example, a low-emission zone. Whether a certain area falls under a specific SA may vary depending on, for example, the time of day or traffic conditions. The navigation ECU 24 can also acquire various traffic information, such as congestion information, regulation information, and traffic accident information, from a traffic information center. The navigation ECU 24 can notify the user of the vehicle 1 of this various information using the HMI device 30. The HMI device 30 includes, for example, an output unit and an input unit provided in the interior of the vehicle 1. The output unit includes, for example, a display unit such as a navigation system display or a meter installed on an instrument panel. The output unit may also include a speaker. The input unit is a touch panel or switches.

The navigation ECU 24 can also accept user operations via the HMI device 30. For example, when a user operates the HMI device 30 to input a destination, the navigation ECU 24 creates a planned driving route PR from the current position of the vehicle 1 to the destination, displays it on the HMI device 30, and provides route guidance. In addition, the specific area SA may be set, for example, by the user operating the HMI device 30.

The navigation ECU 24 can also calculate the required driving power PW required to travel each driving section of the planned driving route PR based on past driving data and/or information such as road surface type or gradient contained in the map information. The navigation ECU 24 can also calculate the required energy Esum required to travel the planned driving route PR by integrating the required driving power PW for the planned driving route PR. Additionally, the navigation ECU 24 can also calculate the required energy Eev required to travel a specific section X (described below) using BEV driving.

The navigation ECU 24 is communicatively connected to the vehicle control ECU 22, for example, via CAN (Controller Area Network) communication. This allows the vehicle control ECU 22 to acquire various information (route information) from the navigation ECU 24, including the planned driving route PR described above and various information related to the planned driving route PR. The route information referred to here is information related to the route ahead of the vehicle that is read in advance, and is therefore hereinafter referred to as "read-ahead information." More specifically, the read-ahead information includes information related to each driving section along the planned driving route PR. The read-ahead information includes, for example, the map information described above, traffic information, section vehicle speed, and required driving power PW.

2. Vehicle Driving Control The control device 20 is configured to be able to execute a "driving assistance function F" that manages the SOC of the battery 16 while the vehicle is driving. The driving assistance function F includes, for example, a "driving switching control." The driving switching control here manages the SOC by switching between BEV driving and HEV driving when a "specific section X" is present on the planned driving route PR of the vehicle 1 to the destination, so that the SOCev required to travel the specific section X in BEV driving is secured before entering the specific section X. The specific section X refers to a driving section on the planned driving route PR that is included in the above-mentioned specific area SA (an area where operation of the internal combustion engine 12 is restricted). The required SOCev is an SOC value corresponding to the above-mentioned required energy Eev.

Here, the control device 20 (more specifically, the vehicle control ECU 22) can selectively execute CD (Charge Depleting) mode and CS (Charge Sustaining) mode as the driving modes of the vehicle 1. CD mode is a mode in which the vehicle drives primarily using the power stored in the battery 16. Examples of CD modes include a BEV mode in which the vehicle drives only in BEV mode until the SOC is depleted, and/or an automatic switching mode in which the vehicle drives in BEV mode as much as possible to consume the SOC. In this automatic switching mode, if the user requests high vehicle output, the vehicle switches from BEV mode to HEV mode. On the other hand, the CS mode is a mode in which the internal combustion engine 12 and the electric motor 14 are operated to maintain a target SOC. An example of the CS mode is an HEV mode in which the vehicle drives in HEV mode while maintaining the SOC at a target value by generating electricity using the power of the internal combustion engine 12. Furthermore, in addition to the CD mode and CS mode, the driving modes of the vehicle 1 include, for example, a charging mode. Charging mode is a mode in which the HEV drives to restore the SOC to a predetermined value when the SOC is depleted.

When driving switching control is being executed, the driving mode before entering specific section X is switched, for example, based on the current SOC as follows: That is, if the current SOC is higher than the value obtained by adding a predetermined margin α to the required SOCev (=SOCev+α), CD mode is selected. Also, if the current SOC is equal to or lower than the above value (=SOCev+α) but higher than the required SOCev, CS mode is selected. As a result, HEV driving is performed so as to maintain the SOC at the time CS mode was selected. Also, if the current SOC is equal to or lower than the required SOCev, charge mode is selected to ensure the required SOCev.

When driving mode switching control is being executed, a driving mode is selected, for example, as described above, and as a result, BEV driving and HEV driving are switched over so that the required SOCev is secured before entering specific section X.

3. Notification of Entry into Specific Section X The HMI device 30, which corresponds to an example of the "notification device" of the present disclosure, is configured to, based on a command from the control device 20, basically issue an "entry notification" that notifies the user of the entry of the vehicle 1 into the specific section X. More specifically, this entry notification is a notification indicating that the vehicle 1 has entered a "specific area SA." Such an entry notification is issued, for example, using a display unit of the HMI device 30. More specifically, the entry notification is issued, for example, using a banner display on a navigation system display that displays information such as a planned driving route PR to the user. The entry notification may also be issued using a caution display on a meter, which is another example of a display unit. The entry notification may also be issued, for example, by audio using a speaker. Furthermore, if the HMI device 30 is configured to be able to control interior lighting, the entry notification may be issued by, for example, changing the color of the interior lighting to a color associated with the entry notification (e.g., green, which is associated with ecology) for a certain period of time.

3-1. Issue A and Countermeasures Therefor It is conceivable that the above-described entry notification is sent every time the vehicle 1 enters the specific section X. However, for example, there may be cases where the vehicle 1 enters the specific section X without switching to BEV driving when the HEV mode is selected by the user's operation of the HMI device 30 (i.e., when the above-described driving switching control is not being executed). In such cases, even if an entry notification is sent, the entry notification is not appreciated by the user. In this way, if an entry notification is sent every time the vehicle enters the specific section X without special consideration, the user may not be able to fully enjoy the benefits of the notification.

Here, the execution condition for the driving mode switching control is not particularly limited, but is specified by the following specific conditions, for example. More specifically, the execution condition is met when, for example, all of the following specific conditions are met:
Route guidance using the planned driving route PR is being executed. The vehicle 1 has entered a road along the planned driving route PR. The battery is not depleted (for example, the SOC is equal to or greater than the required SOCev).
The switch requesting the driving assistance function F is ON. The CD mode (BEV mode or automatic switching mode) is selected (in other words, the HEV mode, charging mode, or other driving mode is not selected).
There is no abnormality in the vehicle 1 (for example, in at least one of the navigation system, the hybrid system, and the communication function).

In consideration of the above-mentioned issue A, in this embodiment, the HMI device 30, which functions as a "notification device," issues an entry notification for entry into the specific section X that occurs while the above-mentioned driving switching control is being executed. On the other hand, the HMI device 30 does not issue an entry notification for entry into the specific section X that occurs while the driving switching control is not being executed.

More specifically, according to the above-described countermeasure for issue A, if at least one of the specific conditions for executing the driving switching control described above is not met, no entry notification is issued when entering a specific section X from a non-specific section Y. In addition, specific situations in which no entry notification is issued when entering a specific section X from a non-specific section Y may include, for example, when the user switches from HEV mode to CD mode when entering a specific section X from a non-specific section Y or immediately before entering the specific section X. Furthermore, specific situations may include when a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) has not yet elapsed since the end of the previous driving switching control. Furthermore, specific situations may include when, after leaving the previous specific section X, the vehicle passes through a short non-specific section Y whose distance is less than a predetermined value, and then immediately enters the next specific section X.

As explained above, according to the countermeasure to issue A, a notification of entry into specific section X is issued when vehicle 1 enters specific section X while driving switching control is being executed. This allows the user (e.g., the driver) to realize that driving switching control is being executed while driving (e.g., while driving), compared to an example in which an entry notification is issued every time vehicle 1 enters specific section X, regardless of whether driving switching control is being executed. In this way, according to this embodiment, it is possible to more effectively notify the user of entry into specific section X.

3-2. Additional Issues B and C and Countermeasures Figure 2 is a diagram used to explain the additional issues B and C related to entry notifications. Figure 3 is a diagram used to explain the additional issue C related to entry notifications. More specifically, each of the additional issues B and C corresponds to an issue related to the countermeasure for the above-mentioned issue A. In Figures 2 and 3, thin solid lines indicate roads, and patterned areas indicate specific areas SA.

The specific section X (a driving section on the planned driving route PR included in the specific area SA) is identified based on map information acquired by the navigation ECU 24. There are, for example, the following two types of map information that can be used to identify the specific section X:

The first map information, as shown in Figure 2, is created so that specific areas SA (multiple thick solid lines) are linked to roads on the map. In this example, roads that are linked to specific areas SA and that fall on the planned driving route PR are identified as specific sections X.

The second map information, as shown in Figure 3, is created so that the specific area SA (the area marked with a pattern) is directly linked to the map. In this example, the specific section X is identified as follows: Among the roads (dash-dotted lines) within the specific area SA, the roads that fall on the planned driving route PR are identified as the specific section X.

(Additional Issue B and its Countermeasures)
First, referring to FIG. 2 , additional issue B will be described. When vehicle 1 is traveling in a specific section X, if the execution condition for the driving switching control is not met within a specific area SA that includes the specific section X, the execution condition for the driving switching control is not met. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , if vehicle 1 enters a parking lot and temporarily deviates from the specific section X (a road on the planned driving route PR), the execution condition for the driving switching control is not met. Then, when vehicle 1 subsequently returns from the parking lot to the specific section X (road), the execution condition for the driving switching control is met again. Under such circumstances, if only measures for issue A are implemented in an example in which the specific area SA is identified by linking it to a road on a map as shown in FIG. 2 , an entry notification will be issued when vehicle 1 returns from the parking lot to the specific section X (road), even though vehicle 1 has actually already entered the specific area SA.

In consideration of the above-mentioned additional issue B, in this embodiment, the HMI device 30 (notification device) switches between issuing and not issuing an entry notification based on a command from the control device 20. Specifically, an entry notification is issued for entry into specific section X when the vehicle 1 is traveling on a road along the planned driving route PR (i.e., "while driving") while driving switching control is being executed. On the other hand, an entry notification is not issued when the vehicle 1 enters specific section X within the specific area SA.

As explained above, measures to address additional issue B can prevent entry notifications from being issued when vehicle 1 enters a road within specific section X on the planned driving route PR from a location other than specific section X within specific area SA (for example, a facility such as a parking lot) when specific area SA is linked to a road on a map, as illustrated in Figure 2.

In addition, in relation to additional issue B, in an example where the specific area SA is directly linked to the map as shown in Figure 3, it is possible to determine that the current location of vehicle 1 is within the specific area SA so that entry notification is not sent.

(Additional Issue C and its Countermeasures)
Next, an additional problem C will be described for both the examples shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. More specifically, the additional problem C also corresponds to the problem related to the countermeasure for the problem A described above.

Even if the vehicle 1 is already traveling on a road within the specific area SA (regardless of whether it is a road (specific section X) on the planned driving route PR), if the user using the HMI device 30 turns off the driving assistance function F (e.g., turns off route guidance or switches to HEV mode or charging mode), the execution condition for driving switch control will not be met. If the user then turns the driving assistance function F back on while traveling on a road corresponding to specific section X within the same specific area SA, the execution condition will be met again. As a result, if only measures to address issue A are being implemented, an entry notification will be issued even though the vehicle has already traveled through the specific area SA. Furthermore, this additional issue C will also occur if, for example, the execution condition is not met due to battery depletion while traveling on a road within the specific area SA, and then the SOC is restored in charging mode while traveling on a road corresponding to specific section X within the same specific area SA, causing the execution condition to be met again.

In consideration of the above-mentioned additional issue C, in this embodiment, the HMI device 30 (notification device) switches between issuing and not issuing an entry notification based on a command from the control device 20. In other words, when the execution conditions for driving switching control are met, an entry notification is issued for entry into a specific section X after passing through a non-specific section Y other than the specific section X. On the other hand, an entry notification is not issued for entry into a specific section X that does not pass through a non-specific section Y.

As explained above, the measures taken to address additional issue C can prevent entry notifications from being sent when the conditions for executing driving switch control are met while the vehicle has already entered a specific area SA.

In addition, specific scenarios in which the above-described countermeasures for additional issues B and C will not result in an entry notification include, for example, the following: If the current location of vehicle 1 is already in specific area SA (including when the current location is in specific section X), and at least one of the following six conditions is met, thereby establishing the execution condition for driving switching control, an entry notification will not be issued. The six conditions are: the hybrid system of vehicle 1 has started (READY-ON), route guidance has begun, the SOC has recovered from a depleted battery state, the driving mode has been returned to CD mode (BEV mode or automatic switching mode) by the user, a switch requesting driving assistance function F has been turned ON, and the vehicle has entered a road along the planned driving route PR from a road that deviates from the planned driving route PR.

4 is a flowchart showing the process related to vehicle travel control and entry notification according to the embodiment. The process of this flowchart is repeatedly executed by the control device 20 (more specifically, for example, by the vehicle control ECU 22 and the navigation ECU 24 working together).

In step S100, the vehicle control ECU 22 determines whether the look-ahead information used for driving switching control has been updated based on whether or not a notification has been received from the navigation ECU 24. The look-ahead information is updated at a predetermined interval (e.g., every minute).

If the look-ahead information has been updated, processing proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the vehicle control ECU 22 acquires the latest look-ahead information from the navigation ECU 24. Processing then proceeds to step S104. If the look-ahead information has not been updated, processing also proceeds to step S104.

In step S104, the vehicle control ECU 22 determines whether the assistance start condition is met. The assistance start condition here is a condition that is met when driving assistance (SOC management) through driving switch control can be started, and corresponds to the execution condition for the driving switch control described above. If the assistance start condition is not met, processing returns to step S100; on the other hand, if the assistance start condition is met, processing proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, the vehicle control ECU 22 determines whether a specific section X exists on the planned driving route PR based on the look-ahead information. If a specific section X does not exist, the process returns to step S100; if a specific section X exists, the process proceeds to step S108.

In step S108, the vehicle control ECU 22 obtains the required energy Eev required to travel the specific section X determined to exist in step S106 using BEV driving.

Next, in step S110, the vehicle control ECU 22 controls the SOC by switching between BEV driving and HEV driving so that the required SOCev corresponding to the required energy Eev is ensured before entering the specific section X.

Next, in step S112, the vehicle control ECU 22 determines, based on the position information of the vehicle 1, whether the vehicle 1 is entering a specific area SA when the assistance start condition is met. More specifically, if the specific area SA is linked to a road on a map as shown in FIG. 2, the determination in step S112 corresponds to determining whether the vehicle 1 is entering a specific section X when the assistance start condition is met. Also, if the specific area SA is linked to a map as shown in FIG. 3, the determination in step S112 corresponds to determining whether the current position of the vehicle 1 is within the specific area SA when the assistance start condition is met.

If the determination result in step S112 is Yes, that is, if the current position of the vehicle 1 is already in the specific section X when the assistance start condition is met, the vehicle control ECU 22 prohibits the entry notification in step S114. Specifically, for example, the entry notification permission flag is set to OFF.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S112 is No, that is, if the vehicle 1 is traveling in a non-specific section Y immediately before the specific section X when the assistance start condition is met, the vehicle control ECU 22 permits the entry notification in step S116. Specifically, for example, the entry notification permission flag is set to ON.

In step S118, which follows step S114 or S116, the vehicle control ECU 22 determines whether entry notifications are permitted (for example, whether the entry notification permission flag is ON). If entry notifications are permitted, the process proceeds to step S120. On the other hand, if entry notifications are prohibited, the process proceeds to step S126.

In step S120, the vehicle control ECU 22 determines whether the vehicle 1 has entered the specific section X. As a result, if it is determined that the vehicle 1 has entered the specific section X, the process proceeds to step S122. On the other hand, if it is determined that the vehicle 1 has not yet entered the specific section X, the process proceeds to step S126.

In step S122, the vehicle control ECU 22 determines whether the current position of the vehicle 1 is on the planned driving route PR. If the result of this determination is No, that is, if the vehicle 1 is traveling on a road that deviates from the planned driving route PR or is stopped at a location that deviates from the planned driving route PR, processing proceeds to step S126.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S122 is Yes, that is, if the vehicle 1 is traveling on a road along the planned traveling route PR, the vehicle control ECU 22 instructs the HMI device 30 to issue an entry notification in step S124. Note that this instruction may also be issued by the navigation ECU 24, which has received information from the vehicle control ECU 22.

In step S126, the vehicle control ECU 22 determines whether the termination condition for the driving assistance function F has been met. The assistance termination condition here is a condition that is met when the driving assistance function F (SOC management) through driving switch control is terminated. In other words, the fulfillment of this assistance termination condition corresponds to, for example, at least one of the specific execution conditions for the driving switch control described above not being met. In step S126, if the assistance termination condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S106; on the other hand, if the assistance termination condition is met, the process proceeds to END.

According to the processing of the flowchart shown in Figure 4 described above, broadly speaking, the entry notification is executed when the execution conditions for driving switching control (i.e., the start conditions for driving assistance function F) are met.

Furthermore, the process shown in Figure 4 comprehensively expresses measures for issue A, as well as measures for additional issue B and measures for additional issue C.

Specifically, according to the process shown in FIG. 4, when the process proceeds from step S118 to step S120 and the determination results of both steps S120 and S122 are Yes, an entry notification is issued. That is, an entry notification is issued when vehicle 1 enters specific section X while traveling on a road along planned traveling route PR (in other words, while traveling on non-specific section Y) (a measure to address additional issue B). According to the process shown in FIG. 4, if the determination result of step S104 is Yes because vehicle 1 has entered a road within specific section X on planned traveling route PR while already within specific area SA (in other words, if the assistance start condition (condition for executing driving switch control) is met as a result of the entry), the determination result of step S112 is Yes, and therefore an entry notification is prohibited in step S114 (a measure to address additional issue B).

Furthermore, according to the processing shown in FIG. 4, if the vehicle 1 is traveling in a non-specific section Y immediately before a specific section X when the execution condition for the driving switching control is met (S104; Yes), the judgment result in step S114 will be No, and an entry notification will be permitted in step S116. The processing then proceeds to step S120 via step S118, where it is determined whether the vehicle has entered the specific section X. The judgment result in step S120 will be No in the sample period in which the judgment result in step S104 was Yes. Thereafter, if the vehicle 1 enters the specific section X after passing through the non-specific section Y, provided that driving switching control is continuing (step S126; No), the judgment results in steps S120 and S122 will be Yes. As a result, an entry notification will be issued (a measure to address additional issue C). Furthermore, when the execution condition for driving switching control is met (S104; Yes), if the determination result in step S112 is Yes (i.e., when the vehicle 1 enters specific section X without passing through non-specific section Y), processing proceeds to step S116, and entry notification is prohibited. In other words, entry notification is not performed (measure to address additional issue C).

In addition, instead of the example processing shown in FIG. 4, only measures for issue A may be executed. Specifically, in the flowchart in FIG. 4, only steps S120 and S124 may be placed between steps S110 and S126, and processing may proceed to step S124 if the determination result of step S120 is Yes. Also, instead of the example processing shown in FIG. 4, measures for issue A may be executed, along with measures for additional issue B or measures for additional issue C.

1 Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) 10 Powertrain 12 Internal Combustion Engine 14 Electric Motor 16 Battery 20 Control Device 22 Vehicle Control ECU 24 Navigation ECU 26 Sensors 30 HMI Device

Claims (3)

a powertrain capable of hybrid driving and power generation through cooperation between an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors, and electric driving performed by the one or more electric motors without operating the internal combustion engine;
a battery that exchanges power with the powertrain;
a control device that, when a specific section, which is a travel section on a planned travel route included in a specific area where travel of the hybrid electric vehicle involving operation of the internal combustion engine is restricted, is included on the planned travel route to a destination, executes travel switching control that switches between the electric travel and the hybrid travel so that a remaining charge of the battery necessary to travel the specific section by the electric travel is secured before entering the specific section;
a notification device that notifies a user of the hybrid electric vehicle's entry into the specific section when the hybrid electric vehicle enters the specific section;
Equipped with
The notification device
When the vehicle enters the specific section while the driving switching control is being executed, the vehicle entry notification is issued.
The hybrid electric vehicle, wherein the entry notification is not issued when the vehicle enters the specific section while the driving switching control is not being executed. The notification device
When the hybrid electric vehicle enters the specific section while traveling on a road along the planned traveling route during the execution of the traveling switching control, the entry notification is issued.
The hybrid electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the entry notification is not issued when the hybrid electric vehicle enters the specific section within the specific area including the specific section. When the execution condition of the driving switching control is satisfied, the notification device
When the vehicle enters the specific section after passing through a non-specific section that does not fall under the specific section, the vehicle issues the entry notification.
The hybrid electric vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the entry notification is not issued for an entry into the specific section that does not pass through the non-specific section.