HYBRID VEHICLE, CONTROLLER FOR A VARIABLE VALVE TIMING (LIFT AND/OR ANGLE) DEVICE FOR THE COMBUSTION ENGINE OF THE HYBRID VEHICLE, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SUCH HYBRID VEHICLE

摘要

A hybrid vehicle includes a rotary electric machine, an internal combustion engine, and a controller. The rotary electric machine is configured to generate driving force for the hybrid vehicle. The internal combustion engine includes a variable valve actuating device configured to change an operation characteristic of an intake valve. The controller is configured to control travel of the vehicle by selectively applying one of a first driving mode and a second driving mode. The controller is configured to control the variable valve actuating device such that at least one of a valve lift of the intake valve and a valve operating angle of the intake valve at start-up of the internal combustion engine when the first driving mode is selected is smaller than the corresponding at least one of the valve lift of the intake valve and the valve operating angle of the intake valve at start-up of the internal combustion engine when the second driving mode is selected. The start-up frequency of the internal combustion engine in a start-up condition in the second driving mode is higher than the start-up frequency of the internal combustion engine in the start-up condition in the first driving mode. The start-up condition is a condition for starting up the internal combustion engine in a stopped state.