Hybrid Vehicle and Control Method Thereof
First Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
- an internal combustion engine as a first power source;
an electric motor as a second power source which drives front wheels and rear wheels independently from each other;
an EV switch which, when turned on by an occupant of the vehicle, places the vehicle in an EV driving mode in which only the electric motor is used as the power source; and
a four-wheel drive condition setting device which sets a four-wheel drive condition, which is a condition for switching from two-wheel drive in which one set of wheels, from among the front wheels and the rear wheels, is driven to four-wheel drive in which both the front wheels and the rear wheels are driven, to reduce a region in which the vehicle operates in four-wheel drive when the EV switch is on as compared to when the EV switch is off.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle is provided with means for setting a four-wheel drive condition which is a condition for switching from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive, and an EV switch which, when turned on by an occupant of the vehicle, places the vehicle in an EV driving mode in which only an electric motor is used as the power source. The four-wheel drive condition setting means changes the four-wheel drive condition to reduce a region in which the vehicle operates in four-wheel drive when the EV switch is on as compared to when the EV switch is off. As a result, the vehicle operates in two-wheel drive more frequently, thus reducing power consumption.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
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an internal combustion engine as a first power source; an electric motor as a second power source which drives front wheels and rear wheels independently from each other; an EV switch which, when turned on by an occupant of the vehicle, places the vehicle in an EV driving mode in which only the electric motor is used as the power source; and a four-wheel drive condition setting device which sets a four-wheel drive condition, which is a condition for switching from two-wheel drive in which one set of wheels, from among the front wheels and the rear wheels, is driven to four-wheel drive in which both the front wheels and the rear wheels are driven, to reduce a region in which the vehicle operates in four-wheel drive when the EV switch is on as compared to when the EV switch is off. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A control method of a hybrid vehicle which is provided with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as power sources and in which front wheels and rear wheels are driven independently from each other by the electric motor, characterised by comprising the steps of:
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determining whether an EV switch which, when turned on by an occupant of the vehicle, places the vehicle in an EV driving mode in which only the electric motor is used as the power source, is turned on; and changing a four-wheel drive condition, which is a condition for switching from two-wheel drive in which one set of wheels, from among the front wheels and the rear wheels, is driven to four-wheel drive in which both the front wheels and the rear wheels are driven, to reduce a region in which the vehicle operates in four-wheel drive when the EV switch is on as compared to when the EV switch is off.
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6. (canceled)
Specification