Hybrid vehicle system

Abstract

To provide a hybrid vehicle system capable of switching four or more travelling modes in which operability in switching between the modes is improved.SOLUTION: A hybrid vehicle system capable of switching travelling modes between four or more travelling modes including HEV modes and EV mode comprises: a toggle switch 36 which alternatively selects one of the plurality of travelling modes; and a controller 20. The controller 20 selects one of the plurality of travelling modes in order whenever the toggle switch 36 receives each operation in a first direction or a second direction. The HEV mode is changed into a different travelling mode when the toggle switch 36 receives one or more operations in the first direction and when the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in the second direction. The order of the HEV modes and the EV mode selected by the controller 20 is configured to be continuous.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a hybrid vehicle system.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a hybrid vehicle that can be switched between an HEV mode that outputs the driving force of an engine or the driving forces of both an engine and a motor, and an EV mode that outputs only the driving force of the motor.

[0003] Specifically, the hybrid vehicle according to Patent Document 1 includes a seesaw switch for switching between the HEV mode and the EV mode. According to Patent Document 1, by providing such a seesaw switch, the alternative switching between the HEV mode and the EV mode can be performed more reliably.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] A seesaw switch as described in Patent Document 1 is applicable to a hybrid vehicle that alternatively switches between two driving modes, such as the aforementioned HEV mode and EV mode.

[0006] However, such a seesaw switch cannot be applied to a vehicle that can be switched between four or more driving modes, such as a case where a sports mode and a towing mode are included in addition to the HEV mode and the EV mode.

[0007] Therefore, while it is conceivable to use a toggle switch instead of a seesaw switch, considering the frequency of use of each driving mode, there is room for improvement in the operability of the toggle switch.

[0008] This disclosure has been made in view of the above, and its purpose is to improve the operability when switching between modes in a hybrid vehicle system that can switch between four or more driving modes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] This disclosure relates to a hybrid vehicle system configured to be switchable between four or more driving modes, including a HEV mode in which both the engine and motor output driving torque, and an EV mode in which only the motor outputs driving torque, and comprising a single operating unit for selectively selecting one of the multiple driving modes. This hybrid vehicle system comprises a controller electrically connected to the operating unit. Equipped with The operating unit is configured as a toggle switch that accepts one or more operations in a predetermined first direction and one or more operations in a second direction different from the first direction, and outputs a signal corresponding to each operation to the controller, and the controller selects the plurality of driving modes in order each time the operating unit accepts an operation in the first direction and a second direction.

[0010] Furthermore, according to this disclosure, the HEV mode is configured to change to a different driving mode when the operating unit receives one or more operations in the first direction and when the operating unit receives one or more operations in the second direction, and the HEV mode and the EV mode are configured to be selected sequentially by the controller.

[0011] With this configuration, one or more operations on the toggle switch, which acts as the control unit, allow switching from HEV mode to one of three or more other driving modes. By using a toggle switch, even if there are four or more driving modes set, switching to each mode can be achieved without compromising operability.

[0012] Furthermore, with the above configuration, when the control unit receives an operation in one of the first or second directions, the driving mode switches from HEV mode to EV mode, and when the control unit receives an operation in the other direction, the driving mode switches from EV mode to HEV mode. In this way, the HEV mode and EV mode can be switched between each other with a single operation on the control unit. This improves the operability when switching between modes that are expected to be selected more frequently than other driving modes.

[0013] Furthermore, the aforementioned According to one embodiment, the plurality of driving modes include a sport mode and a fourth mode, and the plurality of driving modes are sequentially switched by the controller so as to change from the sport mode to the HEV mode or from the HEV mode to the EV mode when the operation unit receives an operation in the first direction, and the controller is sequentially switched so as to change from the EV mode to the HEV mode or from the HEV mode to the sport mode when the operation unit receives an operation in the second direction, and the fourth mode is selected by the controller when the operation unit receives an operation in the first direction in the EV mode, or when the operation unit receives an operation in the second direction in the sport mode. 。

[0014] In this configuration, the sport mode is selected when the control unit receives one operation in HEV mode. On the other hand, the fourth mode is selected when the control unit receives two operations in HEV mode.

[0015] In this way, by varying the number of operations required to switch from HEV mode depending on the driving mode, the Sport mode, which is expected to be selected frequently like the EV mode, can be switched to instantly from HEV mode with a single operation, while the fourth mode, which is expected to be selected less frequently, can not be selected with a single operation. This improves the ease of operation when switching between modes.

[0016] In other words, by configuring the control panel with toggle switches, it becomes possible to vary the number of operations required to select a driving mode depending on how frequently that mode is selected. This allows for smoother switching for frequently selected driving modes, while reducing the likelihood of accidental selection errors for less frequently selected modes. This is advantageous in improving the usability of the control panel.

[0017] Furthermore, another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a hybrid vehicle system configured to be switchable between four or more driving modes, including an HEV mode in which both the engine and motor output driving torque and an EV mode in which only the motor outputs driving torque, and comprising a single operating unit for selectively selecting any of the multiple driving modes. Hybrid vehicle systems are The vehicle is equipped with a controller electrically connected to the aforementioned operating unit, the operating unit is configured as a toggle switch that accepts one or more operations in a predetermined first direction and one or more operations in a second direction different from the first direction, and outputs a signal corresponding to each operation to the controller, the controller sequentially selects one of the plurality of driving modes each time the operating unit accepts operations in the first direction and one or more operations in the second direction, the HEV mode is set to change to a different driving mode when the operating unit accepts one or more operations in the first direction and when the operating unit accepts one or more operations in the second direction, and the HEV mode and the EV mode are set to be selected sequentially by the controller. A startup mode setting unit, configured separately from the aforementioned toggle switch, is provided, which can be set so that the EV mode is selected when the vehicle starts up. moreover The controller, when the startup mode setting unit does not set a mode, prioritizes selecting the HEV mode over the EV mode when starting the vehicle, while when the startup mode setting unit does set a mode, it prioritizes selecting the EV mode over the HEV mode when starting the vehicle. 。

[0018] This configuration allows the vehicle to start from EV mode without having to start from HEV mode during startup. This enables more flexible settings to be made according to the driver's requirements.

[0019] Also, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the startup mode setting unit may be adjacent to the toggle switch with the shift lever interposed therebetween.

[0020] According to this configuration, the startup mode setting unit is arranged near the shift lever and close to the toggle switch. By bringing the startup mode setting unit and the toggle switch close to each other, the operability when setting by the startup mode setting unit can be improved.

Effect of the Invention

[0021] As described above, according to the present disclosure, in a hybrid vehicle system capable of switching to four or more driving modes, the operability when switching between modes can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hybrid vehicle and its towing state. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating details of a hybrid vehicle. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a passenger compartment of a hybrid vehicle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a center console. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second meter display unit in a first display device. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a home screen in a second display device. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a setting screen in a second display device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a hybrid vehicle system. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the settings of the normal mode and the HEV mode. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A is a flowchart illustrating processing related to the selection of a driving mode. [Figure 9B] Figure 9B is a flowchart illustrating the process related to selecting a driving mode. [Figure 9C] Figure 9C is a flowchart illustrating the process related to selecting a driving mode. [Figure 10A] Figure 10A is a corresponding diagram to Figure 5, showing a modified example of the second meter display unit. [Figure 10B] Figure 10B is a corresponding diagram to Figure 5, showing a modified example of the second meter display unit. [Figure 10C] Figure 10C is a corresponding diagram to Figure 5, showing a modified example of the second meter display unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description is illustrative.

[0024] (Overall structure) Figure 1 illustrates an automobile 1 (an example of a hybrid vehicle) according to this embodiment, and the towing state of the automobile 1. The automobile 1 shown in Figure 1 is a hybrid vehicle that can run using electricity. This automobile 1 constitutes the hybrid vehicle system according to this embodiment. The automobile 1 also has a total of four wheels: two front wheels 2F and two rear wheels 2R.

[0025] Automobile 1 is a so-called four-wheel drive vehicle. As a four-wheel drive vehicle, automobile 1 can tow other vehicles (towed vehicles). Automobile 1 is equipped with a coupling device 3 for towing.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the coupler 3 is located at the rear of the automobile 1. The trailer 100, which is the towed vehicle, is connected to the automobile 1 via this coupler 3.

[0027] More specifically, the coupling device 3 consists of a hitch member 3a provided at the rear of the automobile 1 and a coupler 3b provided at the front of the trailer 100. The coupler 3b is formed to be connectable to the hitch member 3a. The hitch member 3a is equipped with a towing sensor 3c that detects the towing state of the automobile 1.

[0028] The towing sensor 3c is composed of a current-carrying sensor. The towing sensor 3c outputs an ON signal when the vehicle 1 is in a towing state and an OFF signal when the vehicle 1 is not towing (not towing an untowing vehicle).

[0029] Figure 2 illustrates the details of automobile 1. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "front" refers to the front of automobile 1 in the longitudinal direction. Similarly, unless otherwise specified, "rear" refers to the rear of automobile 1 in the longitudinal direction.

[0030] Furthermore, both "left" and "right" refer to directions along the width of the vehicle. Specifically, in the following descriptions, "left" refers to the left side when viewed from the rear to the front along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Similarly, "right" refers to the right side when viewed from the rear to the front along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0031] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, "up" and "down" both refer to directions aligned with the height of the vehicle body (vehicle height direction).

[0032] This automobile 1 is equipped with an engine 4 and a motor 5 as power sources. These work together to drive the front wheels 2F and rear wheels 2R. This drive allows the automobile 1 to move. Furthermore, the motor 5 can be used not only as a power source but also as a generator during regenerative braking.

[0033] Automobile 1 is equipped with a high-voltage battery 9. Power supplied from the high-voltage battery 9 allows the motor 5 to generate the torque used to drive automobile 1. An external power source 11 is connected to the high-voltage battery 9 via a power supply port 10. The high-voltage battery 9 is charged by the external power source 11. Automobile 1 is a so-called plug-in hybrid vehicle. Note that automobile 1 may also be a hybrid vehicle without the power supply port 10.

[0034] Automobile 1 is equipped with an engine 4, a motor 5, and as part of its drivetrain, an inverter 7 and an automatic transmission 8. Automobile 1 is also equipped with a controller 20 as part of its control system.

[0035] (Drive system components) Engine 4 is, for example, an internal combustion engine that burns fossil fuels. Engine 4 is a so-called four-stroke engine. In this automobile 1, engine 4 is positioned approximately in the center of the vehicle width direction, with its crankshaft (not shown) facing in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body.

[0036] Motor 5 is a permanent magnet synchronous motor driven by a three-phase alternating current. Motor 5 is positioned in series behind the engine 4. Motor 5 is also positioned in series in front of the automatic transmission 8. The engine 4 is connected to the automatic transmission 8 via motor 5. The rear end of motor 5 is connected to the input shaft 8a of the automatic transmission 8.

[0037] Motor 5 is connected to a high-voltage battery 9 via an inverter 7. The inverter 7 converts the DC power supplied from the high-voltage battery 9 into three-phase AC power and supplies it to motor 5. This causes motor 5 to rotate. In addition, motor 5 supplies regenerative energy to the high-voltage battery 9.

[0038] The high-voltage battery 9 is also connected to the DC-DC converter 12. The DC-DC converter 12 converts high-voltage DC power to low-voltage DC power of 12V and outputs it. The DC-DC converter 12 is connected to a low-voltage battery (a so-called lead-acid battery) not shown.

[0039] The DC-DC converter 12 is also connected to the CAN (Controller Area Network) 13. This allows the DC-DC converter 12 to supply low-voltage DC power to the CAN 13.

[0040] The automatic transmission 8 is a multi-speed automatic transmission (so-called AT). The automatic transmission 8 has an input shaft 8a at its front end, and this input shaft 8a is connected to the motor 5 as described above. The automatic transmission 8 has an output shaft 8b at its rear end, which rotates independently of the input shaft 8a. A gear shifting mechanism consisting of multiple planetary gear mechanisms and multiple friction fastening elements is incorporated between the input shaft 8a and the output shaft 8b.

[0041] As shown in Figure 2, the output shaft 8b of the automatic transmission 8 is connected to the transfer case 14. This transfer case 14 is connected to the rear propeller shaft 15R and the front propeller shaft 15F. The rotational power output through the output shaft 8b is distributed to the rear propeller shaft 15R and the front propeller shaft 15F by the transfer case 14.

[0042] The rear propeller shaft 15R extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and is connected to the rear differential gear 16R. This rear differential gear 16R is connected to a pair of rear drive shafts 17R, 17R that extend in the width direction of the vehicle. The pair of rear drive shafts 17R, 17R are connected to the left and right rear wheels 2R, 2R. The rotational power output through the rear propeller shaft 15R is distributed by the rear differential gear 16R and then transmitted to each rear wheel 2R through this pair of rear drive shafts 17R, 17R.

[0043] The front propeller shaft 15F extends forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, passing alongside the automatic transmission 8 and motor 5. The front propeller shaft 15F is connected to the front differential gear 16F. This front differential gear 16F is connected to a pair of front drive shafts 17F, 17F that extend in the vehicle width direction. The pair of front drive shafts 17F, 17F are connected to the left and right front wheels 2F, 2F. The rotational power output through the front propeller shaft 15F is distributed by the front differential gear 16F and then transmitted to each front wheel 2F through this pair of front drive shafts 17F, 17F.

[0044] Each drive system component is controlled by a controller 20 connected to a DC-DC converter 12 via CAN 13. This controller 20 controls the movement of the vehicle 1 by inputting control signals to each drive system component. The controller 20 can not only move the vehicle 1, but also switch the driving mode of the vehicle 1, such as switching between driving using both the engine 4 and motor 5 and driving using only the motor 5.

[0045] In particular, in this embodiment, the vehicle 1 is switchable between four or more driving modes, including HEV mode and EV mode. HEV mode is Hybrid Electric Vehicle mode. HEV mode is a driving mode in which both engine 4 and motor 5 output torque for driving vehicle 1. EV mode is Electric Vehicle mode. EV mode is a driving mode in which only motor 5 outputs torque for driving vehicle 1.

[0046] The HEV mode is a driving mode that is expected to be used more frequently than other driving modes. In the following description, this HEV mode may sometimes be referred to as "normal mode."

[0047] Other driving modes include Sport mode, Towing mode, and Off-road mode. Towing mode and Off-road mode are examples of the "fourth mode" in this embodiment.

[0048] Sport mode is set to increase the target acceleration of vehicle 1 when the accelerator pedal is pressed, compared to normal mode. Also, sport mode is set to use lower gears more frequently than normal mode. In sport mode, each drivetrain component is controlled to follow the driver's aggressive intention to "want to accelerate more."

[0049] In towing mode, compared to normal mode, the braking force is increased when the brake pedal is pressed, the drive torque of engine 4 is significantly reduced at the beginning of a turn, the torque distribution to rear wheel 2R is increased, and braking force is generated on front wheel 2F to suppress the lateral sway of trailer 100. In towing mode, each drive system is controlled to achieve driving suitable for vehicle 1 when towing.

[0050] Off-road mode is configured to use lower gears more frequently than normal mode, but less frequently than sport mode. Furthermore, compared to normal mode, off-road mode is configured to distribute torque more evenly between the front 2F and rear 2R wheels, and to distribute braking force more evenly between the front 2F and rear 2R wheels. In off-road mode, each drivetrain component is controlled to enhance traction performance for off-road driving.

[0051] To enable switching between these driving modes, the automobile 1 is equipped with a single control unit for selectively selecting one of several driving modes. In other words, in this embodiment, the switching of driving modes is achieved by a single control unit, rather than a combination of multiple control units. The control unit generates an electrical signal corresponding to the operation performed by the occupant and outputs it to the outside. The controller 20 is electrically connected to this control unit and performs the switching of driving modes as described later, based on the electrical signal input from the control unit.

[0052] In this embodiment in particular, the first operating unit is configured by a toggle switch 36. This toggle switch 36 is located inside the passenger compartment 30 of the automobile 1 (see Figure 3 for the passenger compartment 30). Other devices related to the driving mode are also located inside the passenger compartment 30.

[0053] (Interior structure) Figure 3 illustrates the passenger compartment 30 of automobile 1. Figure 4 illustrates the configuration of the center console 34. As shown in Figure 3, automobile 1 is a left-hand drive vehicle with the steering wheel 31 and driver's seat 32 located on the left side in the vehicle width direction.

[0054] As shown in Figure 3, the passenger compartment 30 includes a dashboard 33 and a center console 34. The dashboard 33 is located at the front of the passenger compartment 30. The center console 34 is located approximately in the center in the width direction of the vehicle and extends forward from the right side of the driver's seat 32.

[0055] Devices that provide information to the occupants are laid out on and around the dashboard 33. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, a first display device 40 that displays an image representing the tachometer, etc., is located on the left side of the dashboard 33 and in front of the steering wheel 31 and the driver's seat 32. In addition, a second display device 50 that displays the navigation screen, the settings screen of the vehicle 1, etc., is located in the center of the dashboard 33 in the vehicle width direction and in front of the center console 34.

[0056] On the other hand, the center console 34 is equipped with various devices that accept operation from the occupants (especially the driver), such as the select lever 35. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the top surface of the center console 34 is equipped with the select lever 35 as a shift lever, the toggle switch 36 as the aforementioned operating unit, the power meter 37, and the commander switch 38 as a start mode setting unit.

[0057] The select lever 35 is an input device for selecting the gear range of the automatic transmission 8. A toggle switch 36 and a power meter 37 are located in front of the select lever 35, while a commander switch 38 is located behind the select lever 35.

[0058] The toggle switch 36 and the power meter 37 are adjacent to the select lever 35 in the front-to-back direction, and the select lever 35 is adjacent to the commander switch 38 in the front-to-back direction. That is, in this embodiment, the commander switch 38 is adjacent to the toggle switch 36 with the select lever 35 in between. The commander switch 38 is closer to the toggle switch 36 than the handle 31 and the first display device 40 and second display device 50 described later.

[0059] The toggle switch 36 is configured to accept one or more operations in a predetermined first direction (one operation or multiple operations) and one or more operations in a second direction different from the first direction, and to output a signal corresponding to each operation to the controller 20. As illustrated by arrow A1 in Figure 4, in this embodiment, the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body corresponds to the first direction. Similarly, as illustrated by arrow A2 in Figure 4, in this embodiment, the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body corresponds to the second direction.

[0060] The toggle switch 36 can be tilted in a first direction and a second direction in response to operation by the occupant. For example, when the toggle switch 36 is tilted in the first direction (when operation in the first direction is accepted), an electrical signal corresponding to that operation (the first electrical signal) is input to the controller 20. Similarly, when the toggle switch 36 is tilted in the second direction (when operation in the second direction is accepted), an electrical signal corresponding to that operation (the second electrical signal) is input to the controller 20.

[0061] The toggle switch 36 is configured to return to the non-tilted position (neutral position) when it is not being operated by an occupant (non-operational). Therefore, the toggle switch 36 according to this embodiment can be repeatedly tilted in the first direction or repeatedly tilted in the second direction. Furthermore, as will be described later, the indicator 47 (two lines illustrated in Figure 5) in the first display device 40 is configured to move in synchronization with the tilting of the toggle switch 36.

[0062] The power meter 37 is located adjacent to the rear of the toggle switch 36. The power meter 37 is closer to the toggle switch 36 compared to the select lever 35 and the commander switch 38. The power meter 37 displays the charge status of the high-voltage battery 9. The information displayed on the power meter 37 serves as a guide when deciding whether to switch driving modes.

[0063] The commander switch 38 is configured to be rotatable around a central axis extending approximately vertically and to swing back and forth and left and right. The second display device 50 is controlled in accordance with the rotational and swinging movements of the commander switch 38. The commander switch 38 has a commander knob 38a in its center. This commander knob 38a is configured as a physical button that can be pressed by the occupant. By pressing the commander knob 38a, the occupant can determine the desired function or other action.

[0064] The first display device 40 is configured such that at least a portion of it functions as a so-called tachometer, and has a display screen that displays meter images, etc. This display screen is made up of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, etc. On the display screen of the first display device 40, the first meter display section 41, the second meter display section (meter display section) 42, and the third meter display section 43 are displayed in order from left to right in the vehicle width direction.

[0065] The first meter display unit 41 displays the engine coolant temperature, fuel level, and the charge status of the high-voltage battery 9. The second meter display unit 42 displays the vehicle speed, gear range, and driving mode selection screen. The third meter display unit 43 displays the output rotation speed of the engine 4, motor 5, etc. The driving mode selection screen (driving mode display unit 46) may be displayed on the first meter display unit 41 or the third meter display unit 43.

[0066] Figure 5 illustrates the second meter display unit 42 in the first display device 40. As shown in Figure 5, the second meter display unit 42 displays a scale image 42a and a pointer image 42b. The scale image 42a has multiple scales arranged in an arc. The pointer image 42b extends in a needle shape along the radial direction with respect to the arc of the scale image 42a. Based on the relative positions of the scale image 42a and the pointer image 42b, the current vehicle speed of the automobile 1 is indicated.

[0067] Below the second meter display unit 42, a range display unit 45 is provided to indicate the current gear range. As illustrated in Figure 4, if the D range is selected by the select lever 35, "D" is displayed on the range display unit 45. If the P range, R range, or N range is selected, "P", "R", or "N" is displayed on the range display unit 45, respectively.

[0068] Furthermore, a driving mode display unit 46 is provided between the scale image 42a and the range display unit 45, which displays the current driving mode and also displays the operating direction of the toggle switch 36 in relation to the selection order of the driving modes. As illustrated in Figure 5, the driving mode display unit 46 of the first display device 40 displays multiple driving modes side by side.

[0069] More specifically, the driving mode display unit 46 according to this embodiment is configured to display the string "TOWING" corresponding to towing mode, the string "SPORTS" corresponding to sports mode, the string "NORMAL" corresponding to normal mode, the string "EV" corresponding to EV mode, and the string "OFF-ROAD" corresponding to off-road mode, in that order from top to bottom.

[0070] The driving mode display unit 46 uses the string corresponding to normal mode as a reference position, and displays the other driving modes in order above and below it. Specifically, above the normal mode, the strings corresponding to sport mode and towing mode are displayed in order, and below the normal mode, the strings corresponding to EV mode and off-road mode are displayed in order. The order in which the driving modes are displayed on the driving mode display unit 46 is configured to match the order in which the driving mode is selected when the toggle switch 36 is operated.

[0071] The driving mode display unit 46 is configured to display two lines above and below the string corresponding to the currently selected driving mode (the driving mode selected by the controller 20). For example, if EV mode is selected, lines will be displayed above and below the string "EV" as shown in Figure 4. The two lines move as the driving mode is switched. The two lines function as an indicator 47 that shows the currently selected driving mode.

[0072] The driving mode display unit 46 moves the indicator 47 to the third direction corresponding to the first direction each time the toggle switch 36 is operated in the first direction. As this movement occurs, the display position of the indicator 47 moves up or down above the respective strings corresponding to towing mode, sport mode, normal mode, EV mode, and off-road mode.

[0073] When the toggle switch 36 is operated in the first direction, the direction of movement of the indicator 47 (third direction) corresponds to the area below the field of view (below the vehicle body) when the driving mode display unit 46 is viewed from the front, as illustrated by arrow A3 in Figures 4 and 8. This direction of movement coincides with the area below the field of view (towards the rear of the vehicle body) when the toggle switch 36 is viewed from above.

[0074] Meanwhile, whenever the toggle switch 36 is operated in the second direction, the driving mode display unit 46 moves the indicator 47 in a fourth direction, which corresponds to the second direction and is opposite to the third direction. As this movement occurs, the display position of the indicator 47 moves up or down above the respective strings corresponding to off-road mode, EV mode, normal mode, sport mode, and towing mode.

[0075] When the toggle switch 36 is operated in the second direction, the direction of movement of the indicator 47 (fourth direction) corresponds to the upper part of the field of view (above the vehicle body) when the driving mode display unit 46 is viewed from the front, as illustrated by arrow A4 in Figures 4 and 8. This direction of movement coincides with the upper part of the field of view (forward of the vehicle body) when the toggle switch 36 is viewed from above.

[0076] In this way, the operating direction when the toggle switch 36 is in the driver's field of vision matches the direction of movement of the indicator 47 when the driving mode display unit 46 is in the driver's field of vision. This provides the driver with a more intuitive operating feel.

[0077] The second display device 50 is composed of, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel, and is configured to change the display content based on touch operations by the occupant and operations on the commander switch 38. For example, as a screen whose display content changes in response to operations on the commander switch 38, the second display device 50 can display a home screen 60 that can be transitioned to the settings screen 70 of the automobile 1.

[0078] Figure 6A illustrates the home screen 60 of the automobile 1 in the second display device 50. As shown in Figure 6A, the home screen 60 displays, in order from the left side of the screen (left side of the field of view when the home screen 60 is viewed from the front), a first button 61, a second button 62, a third button 63, a fourth button 64, and a fifth button 65.

[0079] Here, the first button 61 is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for transitioning to various application screens (not shown). The second button 62 is a GUI for transitioning to an entertainment screen (not shown). The third button 63 is a GUI for transitioning to a communication screen (not shown). The fourth button 64 is a GUI for transitioning to a navigation screen (not shown). The fifth button 65 is a GUI for transitioning to the settings screen 70.

[0080] These first to fifth buttons 61 to 65 can be selected by rotating the commander switch 38. A string 66 indicating the currently selected button is displayed at the bottom of the home screen 60. By pressing the commander knob 38a while the desired button is selected, the user can transition to the screen corresponding to that button.

[0081] Although the first to fifth buttons 61 to 65 are displayed sequentially from left to right on the screen of the second display device 50, the display configuration of each button is not limited to that shown in Figure 6A. For example, as shown in the setting screen 70 in Figure 6B described later, the setting items corresponding to the first button 61, the setting items corresponding to the second button 62, the setting items corresponding to the third button 63, the setting items corresponding to the fourth button 64, and the setting items corresponding to the fifth button 65 may be displayed sequentially from the top to the bottom of the screen. In this case, each setting item can be selected sequentially from the top of the screen by rotating the commander switch 38.

[0082] Figure 6B illustrates the settings screen 70 of the second display device 50. As illustrated in Figure 6B, this settings screen 70 displays, for example, a first setting item 71 labeled "Charging Schedule" and a second setting item 72 labeled "EV Priority Mode".

[0083] By operating the commander switch 38, the first setting item 71 is selected, and then pressing the commander knob 38a turns on the EV priority mode (for example, a checkbox is marked as shown in the diagram). When the EV priority mode is turned on, the controller 20 prioritizes selecting the EV mode over the normal mode when starting up the vehicle 1.

[0084] Thus, the commander switch 38 according to this embodiment functions as a startup mode setting unit that can be set to select EV mode when the automobile 1 is started (vehicle startup).

[0085] (Control system equipment) Figure 7 is a block diagram of a hybrid vehicle system. The vehicle 1 is equipped with a controller 20 that controls the engine 4, motor 5, automatic transmission 8, first display device 40, etc., in response to the occupant's operation. The hybrid vehicle system is equipped with this controller 20. The controller 20 consists of hardware such as a processor, memory, and interface, and software such as a database and control programs.

[0086] Although Figure 7 shows a single controller 20 in the hybrid vehicle system, this controller 20 may be divided into a unit (PCM) that primarily controls the operation of the drive source (engine 4 and motor 5) and a unit (TCM) that primarily controls the operation of the automatic transmission 8. The PCM and TCM are connected by CAN 13 and configured to communicate with each other electrically.

[0087] Furthermore, the unit that controls the second display device 50 may also be separate from the PCM and TCM. For example, the second display device 50 itself may have a processor, memory, interface, etc. The second display device 50 may also be a tablet terminal independent of the automobile 1.

[0088] The hybrid vehicle system is equipped with switches that accept operation from the driver. In addition to the aforementioned toggle switch 36 and commander switch 38, this hybrid vehicle system also has a START / STOP switch 81. The START / STOP switch 81 is operated when starting and stopping the vehicle 1. These switches input signals to the controller 20 in response to the driver's operation.

[0089] Regarding the commander switch 38, the signal may be input to the controller 20 via the second display device 50 as shown in the diagram, or the signal may be input to the controller 20 without going through the second display device 50.

[0090] The hybrid vehicle system also includes sensors that measure various parameters related to the vehicle 1. In addition to the aforementioned towing sensor 3c, this hybrid vehicle system has an SOC sensor 82. The SOC sensor 82 detects the State of Charge (SOC), which indicates the charge state of the high-voltage battery 9. These sensors input their detection signals to the controller 20.

[0091] Based on signals input from these switches and sensors, the controller 20 can control the starting and stopping of the vehicle 1, and control its movement when the vehicle 1 is not stopped.

[0092] Specifically, the controller 20 according to this embodiment selects one of a plurality of driving modes based on an operation received by the toggle switch 36, which acts as the operating unit. The controller 20 controls the drive system to realize the driving mode thus selected.

[0093] In more detail, the controller 20 according to this embodiment selects one of a plurality of driving modes in a predetermined selection order each time the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in the first direction (rear of the vehicle) and the second direction (forward of the vehicle).

[0094] In this case, when the commander switch 38, which acts as the startup mode setting unit, is not set, the controller 20 prioritizes selecting the normal mode over the EV mode when starting the vehicle (setting it so that the normal mode is the starting point). Specifically, when the commander switch 38 is not set and the towing mode is not set to be selected when starting the vehicle, the controller 20 selects the normal mode as the driving mode when starting the vehicle.

[0095] Furthermore, the normal mode is configured to change to different driving modes depending on whether the toggle switch 36 is operated one or more times in the first direction or one or more times in the second direction. In other words, the driving mode selected when the toggle switch 36 is operated in the first direction in normal mode (EV mode, off-road mode) and the driving mode selected when the toggle switch 36 is operated in the second direction in normal mode (sport mode, towing mode) are configured to be different from each other.

[0096] For example, if the toggle switch 36 is operated in the first direction while normal mode is selected, the controller 20 switches the driving mode in the order of EV mode and then off-road mode.

[0097] Conversely, if the toggle switch 36 is operated in the second direction while normal mode is selected, the controller 20 switches the driving mode in the order of sport mode and then towing mode.

[0098] On the other hand, when the controller 20 is set using the commander switch 38 as the startup mode setting unit (when the second setting item 72 shown in Figure 6B is checked), it prioritizes selecting EV mode over normal mode when starting the vehicle (it is set so that EV mode is the starting point). In detail, when the commander switch 38 is set and the towing mode is not set to be selected when starting the vehicle, the controller 20 selects EV mode as the driving mode when starting the vehicle.

[0099] For example, if the toggle switch 36 is operated in the first direction while EV mode is selected, the controller 20 switches the driving mode from EV mode to off-road mode.

[0100] Conversely, when the toggle switch 36 is operated in the second direction while EV mode is selected, the controller 20 switches the driving mode in the following order: normal mode, sport mode, and towing mode.

[0101] Furthermore, if the system is configured to select towing mode when the vehicle starts up, the controller 20 will select towing mode as the driving mode when the vehicle starts up. In addition, while the vehicle is in motion, the controller 20 is configured to sequentially switch to other driving modes, starting from the currently selected driving mode.

[0102] In other words, in this embodiment, the controller 20 sequentially switches between multiple driving modes when the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in the first direction, changing from sport mode to normal mode, from normal mode to EV mode, or from EV mode to off-road mode.

[0103] Similarly, the controller 20 sequentially switches between multiple driving modes when the toggle switch 36 accepts operation in the second direction, changing from off-road mode to EV mode, from EV mode to normal mode, from normal mode to sport mode, or from sport mode to towing mode.

[0104] Thus, the off-road mode, which is the fourth mode, is selected in EV mode when the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in the first direction. Similarly, the towing mode, which is also the fourth mode, is selected in sport mode when the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in the second direction.

[0105] Furthermore, the display content on the driving mode display unit 46 changes in accordance with the switching of the driving mode via the toggle switch 36. For example, when the vehicle is started without any setting via the commander switch 38, which acts as the start mode setting unit, the controller 20 prioritizes selecting the normal mode over the EV mode (it is set so that the normal mode is the starting point), as described above. In this case, the driving mode display unit 46 displays the content shown in the upper part of Figure 8.

[0106] In the normal mode, when the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in the first direction (rear of the vehicle), the controller 20 switches the driving mode from normal mode to EV mode. Along with this switch, the display content on the driving mode display unit 46 transitions from the upper to the lower section of Figure 8. As a result of this transition, the indicator 47 moves one step (one driving mode) in the third direction (see arrow A3).

[0107] Subsequently, when the toggle switch 36 receives a first-direction operation in EV mode, the controller 20 switches the driving mode from EV mode to off-road mode. Conversely, when the toggle switch 36 receives a second-direction operation in EV mode, the controller 20 returns the driving mode from EV mode to normal mode.

[0108] As described above, by setting the selection order of Normal Mode and EV Mode to be consecutive, the following driving mode switching is achieved. Specifically, when the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in the first direction in Normal Mode, the controller 20 switches from Normal Mode to EV Mode. Also, when the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in the second direction in EV Mode, the controller 20 switches from EV Mode to Normal Mode.

[0109] Thus, the normal mode and EV mode according to this embodiment are set to be selected sequentially by the controller 20.

[0110] In detail, the Normal Mode and EV Mode are set to switch between each other with a single operation of the toggle switch 36. Corresponding to this setting, the selection positions for Normal Mode and EV Mode on the driving mode display unit 46 are also set to be adjacent in the direction of movement of the indicator 47 (third and fourth directions).

[0111] The following provides a detailed explanation of the process related to selecting the driving mode.

[0112] (Processing related to the selection of driving mode) Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C are flowcharts illustrating the process related to the selection of a driving mode, respectively. When the vehicle 1 is started, the controller 20 proceeds the control process to step S1 in Figure 9A. In step S1, the controller 20 reads electrical signals from various sensors and switches.

[0113] In the following step S2, the controller 20 determines whether an ON signal is output from the towing sensor 3c and whether the towing mode was selected when the vehicle was last stopped. If the determination in step S2 is YES, the control process proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, if the determination in step S2 is NO, the control process proceeds to step S6.

[0114] In step S3, the controller 20 selects towing mode as the driving mode. The following step S4 is a process that is determined while driving in towing mode.

[0115] Specifically, in step S4, the controller 20 determines whether or not the toggle switch 36 has received an operation. If this determination is NO, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has not been operated while the vehicle is traveling in towing mode, the controller 20 returns the control process to step S4. In this case, the controller 20 continues traveling in towing mode. On the other hand, if the determination in step S4 is YES, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has received an operation while the vehicle is traveling in towing mode, the controller 20 proceeds the control process to step S5.

[0116] In step S5, the controller 20 determines the operating direction of the toggle switch 36. If the operating direction is the first direction (rear of the vehicle) (step S5: YES), the controller 20 proceeds to step S13 in Figure 9B of the control process.

[0117] On the other hand, in step S5, if the toggle switch 36 is operated in the second direction (forward of the vehicle) (step S5: NO), the controller 20 returns the control process to step S4. In other words, if the toggle switch 36 is operated in the second direction in towing mode, the driving mode is not switched.

[0118] In step S13 of Figure 9B, the controller 20 selects sport mode as the driving mode. The following step S14 is a process that is determined while driving in sport mode.

[0119] Specifically, in step S14, the controller 20 determines whether or not the toggle switch 36 has received an operation. If this determination is NO, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has not been operated while driving in sport mode, the control process repeats step S14. In this case, the controller 20 continues driving in sport mode. On the other hand, if the determination in step S14 is YES, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has received an operation while driving in sport mode, the controller 20 proceeds to step S15 of the control process.

[0120] In step S15, the controller 20 determines the operating direction of the toggle switch 36. If the determined operating direction is the second direction (step S15: YES), the controller 20 proceeds the control process to step S13 in Figure 9B. In this case, the control process returns to step S3 described above. The vehicle 1 returns from driving in smoking mode to driving in towing mode.

[0121] On the other hand, if the operating direction determined in step S15 is the first direction (step S15: NO), the controller 20 proceeds to step S10 in Figure 9A. In this case, as will be described later, the normal mode is selected and driving in that normal mode is performed.

[0122] In contrast, in step S6, which proceeds if the determination in step S2 is NO, the controller 20 determines whether the commander knob 38a is set to select EV mode when the vehicle starts up, based on the operation previously received by the commander knob 38a. If this determination is NO (not set by the commander knob 38a), the controller 20 proceeds to step S10 of the control process. In this case, as will be described later, the controller 20 will prioritize selecting normal mode over EV mode when the vehicle starts up.

[0123] On the other hand, if the determination in step S6 is NO (when set by the commander knob 38a), the controller 20 proceeds to step S7 of the control process. In this case, the controller 20 will prioritize selecting EV mode over normal mode when the vehicle is started.

[0124] More specifically, in step S7, which follows step S6, the controller 20 selects EV mode as the driving mode. The subsequent step S8 is a process that is determined while driving in EV mode.

[0125] Specifically, in step S8, the controller 20 determines whether or not the toggle switch 36 has received an operation. If this determination is NO, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has not been operated while driving in EV mode, the controller 20 returns the control process to step S8. In this case, the controller 20 continues driving in EV mode. On the other hand, if the determination in step S8 is YES, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has received an operation while driving in EV mode, the controller 20 proceeds the control process to step S9.

[0126] In step S9, the controller 20 determines the operating direction of the toggle switch 36. If the determined operating direction is the first direction (step S9: YES), the controller 20 proceeds the control process to step S16 in Figure 9C. In this case, the vehicle 1 returns from driving in EV mode to driving in off-road mode.

[0127] On the other hand, if the operating direction determined in step S9 is the second direction (step S9: NO), the controller 20 proceeds to step S10 in Figure 9A. In this case, as will be described later, the normal mode is selected and driving in that normal mode is performed.

[0128] In step S16 of Figure 9C, the controller 20 selects off-road mode as the driving mode. The following step S17 is a process that is determined while driving in off-road mode.

[0129] Specifically, in step S17, the controller 20 determines whether or not the toggle switch 36 has received an operation. If this determination is NO, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has not been operated while driving in off-road mode, the control process repeats step S17. In this case, the controller 20 continues driving in off-road mode. On the other hand, if the determination in step S17 is YES, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has received an operation while driving in off-road mode, the controller 20 proceeds to step S18 of the control process.

[0130] In step S18, the controller 20 determines the operating direction of the toggle switch 36. If the determined operating direction is the first direction (step S18: YES), the controller 20 returns the control process to step S7 in Figure 9A. In this case, the vehicle 1 returns from driving in off-road mode to driving in EV mode.

[0131] On the other hand, if the operating direction determined in step S18 is the second direction (step S18: NO), the controller 20 returns the control process to step S17 in Figure 9C. In other words, if the toggle switch 36 is operated in the first direction in off-road mode, the driving mode will not be switched.

[0132] Furthermore, if the determination in step S6 is NO, if the determination in step S9 is NO, and if the determination in step S15 is NO, in step S10 the controller 20 selects normal mode as the driving mode. The following step S11 is a process that is determined while driving in normal mode.

[0133] Specifically, in step S11, the controller 20 determines whether or not the toggle switch 36 has received an operation. If this determination is NO, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has not been operated while driving in off-road mode, the control process repeats step S11. In this case, the controller 20 continues driving in normal mode. On the other hand, if the determination in step S11 is YES, that is, if the toggle switch 36 has received an operation while driving in normal mode, the controller 20 proceeds to step S12 of the control process.

[0134] In step S12, the controller 20 determines the operating direction of the toggle switch 36. If the determined operating direction is the first direction (step S12: YES), the controller 20 proceeds to step S7 described above. In this case, the driving mode is switched from normal mode to EV mode.

[0135] On the other hand, if the operating direction determined in step S12 is the second direction (step S12: NO), the controller 20 proceeds to step S13 described above. In other words, if the toggle switch 36 is operated in the second direction in normal mode, the driving mode will be switched from normal mode to sport mode.

[0136] (Regarding the selection order of driving modes) As described above, in this embodiment, the vehicle can switch from HEV mode to three or more other driving modes by operating the toggle switch 36, which serves as the operating unit. By using the toggle switch 36, even when four or more driving modes are set, switching to each mode can be achieved without impairing operability.

[0137] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 8, when the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in one of the first or second directions, the driving mode switches from HEV mode to EV mode, and when the toggle switch 36 receives an operation in the other direction, the driving mode switches from EV mode to HEV mode. In this way, the HEV mode and EV mode can be switched between each other with a single operation of the toggle switch 36. This improves the operability of switching between modes that are expected to be selected more frequently than other driving modes.

[0138] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9A to 9C, the sport mode is selected when the toggle switch 36 receives one operation in HEV mode. On the other hand, the towing mode and off-road mode, which are the fourth modes, are selected when the toggle switch 36 receives two operations in HEV mode.

[0139] In this way, by varying the number of operations required to switch from HEV mode depending on the driving mode, the Sport mode, which is expected to be selected frequently like the EV mode, can be switched to instantly from HEV mode with a single operation, while the fourth mode, which is expected to be selected less frequently, can not be selected with a single operation. This is advantageous in improving the operability when switching between modes.

[0140] In other words, by configuring the operating section with a toggle switch 36, it becomes possible to vary the number of operations required to select a driving mode depending on how frequently that mode is selected. This allows for smoother switching for frequently selected driving modes, while reducing the likelihood of incorrect selection due to erroneous operation for less frequently selected driving modes. This is advantageous in improving the operability of the operating section.

[0141] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 4, by using the commander switch 38 in the startup mode setting unit, it is possible to start the vehicle from EV mode without starting from HEV mode. This allows for more flexible settings to be made according to the driver's requirements.

[0142] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 4, the commander switch 38 is positioned closer to the toggle switch 36 compared to the steering wheel 31, the first display device 40, and the second display device 50. By placing the commander switch 38 and the toggle switch 36 close together, the operability of the commander switch 38 when setting the vehicle startup can be improved.

[0143] <Other Embodiments> At least a portion of this disclosure may also be applied to two-wheel drive vehicles.

[0144] Furthermore, the display mode of the driving mode display unit 46 is not limited to the mode illustrated in Figure 5. For example, the driving modes may be displayed in a reel-like manner, and the currently selected driving mode may be displayed on the first display device 40 by rotating the reel according to the operating direction of the toggle switch 36.

[0145] Furthermore, the display mode of the second meter display unit 42 is not limited to the mode illustrated in Figure 5. For example, the first display device 40 may temporarily display the driving mode display unit 46 when the toggle switch 36 is operated.

[0146] Figures 10A, 10B, and 10C are corresponding diagrams to Figure 5 showing modified versions of the second meter display unit 42. Here, it is assumed that the toggle switch 36 is operated while driving in normal mode, switching from normal mode to EV mode.

[0147] In the modified second meter display unit 42', when the vehicle 1 is in motion (for example, in normal mode), instead of displaying the driving mode display unit 46, it displays speed information 42c indicating the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 (see Figure 10A). In this way, the second meter display unit 42' hides the driving mode display unit 46 while the vehicle 1 is in motion.

[0148] Subsequently, when the toggle switch 36 is operated while the vehicle 1 is in motion, the second meter display unit 42' changes the display position of the speed information 42c to the upper part of the screen, and also displays the driving mode display unit 46 and a vehicle image 48 that represents the driving mode selected via the toggle switch 36 (see Figure 10B). At this time, the second meter display unit 42' may hide the scale image 42a and the pointer image 42b, as illustrated in Figure 10B.

[0149] For example, if EV mode is selected while driving in normal mode, the second meter display unit 42' will display a driving mode display unit 46 with the indicator 47 moved to the position of the string "EV", and a vehicle image 48 representing EV mode. Here, the second meter display unit 42' may display different colors for the vehicle image 48 for each driving mode, or it may display an image that characterizes each driving mode, such as an image of the towing state (for example, the image in Figure 1), as the vehicle image 48.

[0150] Furthermore, while the driving mode display unit 46 and the vehicle image 48 are being displayed, the toggle switch 36 may be operated to change the display position of the indicator 47 and the display content of the vehicle image 48 based on the driving mode selected by that operation.

[0151] Subsequently, after a predetermined time (for example, a few seconds) has elapsed since the toggle switch 36 was operated, the second meter display unit 42' returns the display position of the speed information 42c to its previous position and hides the driving mode display unit 46 and the vehicle image 48 (Figure 10C). Furthermore, the second meter display unit 42' displays the scale image 42a and the needle image 42b again, and adds the string "EV" 49 to the bottom of the screen of the speed information 42c to indicate that EV mode is selected.

[0152] Thus, the display modes of the first display device 40, the second meter display unit 42, and the driving mode display unit 46 can each be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0153] 1. Automobile (vehicle, hybrid vehicle) 20 Controller (control means) 35 Select lever (shift lever) 36. Toggle switch (operating part) 38 Commander switch (startup mode setting section) 4 engines 5 Motors 52 Steering angle sensor 55 Engine rotation sensor 56 Motor rotation sensor 40 1st display device 47 indicators 50 2nd display device A1 1st direction A2 2nd direction A3 3rd direction A4 4th direction

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle system configured to be switchable between four or more driving modes, including an HEV mode in which both the engine and motor output driving torque, and an EV mode in which only the motor outputs driving torque, and comprising a single operating unit for selectively selecting one of the multiple driving modes, The controller is electrically connected to the aforementioned operating unit, The operation unit is configured as a toggle switch that accepts one or more operations in a predetermined first direction and one or more operations in a second direction different from the first direction, and outputs a signal corresponding to each operation to the controller. The controller, each time the operating unit receives an operation in the first direction and the second direction, sequentially selects one of the multiple driving modes. The HEV mode is configured to change to a different driving mode when the operating unit receives one or more operations in the first direction and when the operating unit receives one or more operations in the second direction, The HEV mode and the EV mode are set to be selected sequentially by the controller. The aforementioned multiple driving modes include a sport mode and a fourth mode, The aforementioned multiple driving modes are: When the control unit receives an operation in the first direction, the controller sequentially switches between the sport mode and the HEV mode, or between the HEV mode and the EV mode. When the control unit receives an operation in the second direction, the controller sequentially switches between modes, changing from EV mode to HEV mode, or from HEV mode to sport mode. The fourth mode is selected by the controller when the control unit receives an operation in the first direction in the EV mode, or when the control unit receives an operation in the second direction in the sport mode. A hybrid vehicle system characterized by the following features.

2. A hybrid vehicle system configured to be switchable between four or more driving modes, including an HEV mode in which both the engine and the motor output driving torque and an EV mode in which only the motor outputs driving torque, and comprising a single operating unit for selectively selecting one of the multiple driving modes, The controller is electrically connected to the aforementioned operating unit, The operation unit is configured as a toggle switch that accepts one or more operations in a predetermined first direction and one or more operations in a second direction different from the first direction, and outputs a signal corresponding to each operation to the controller. The controller, each time the operating unit receives an operation in the first direction and the second direction, sequentially selects one of the multiple driving modes. The HEV mode is configured to change to a different driving mode when the operating unit receives one or more operations in the first direction and when the operating unit receives one or more operations in the second direction, The HEV mode and the EV mode are set to be selected sequentially by the controller. It further comprises a startup mode setting unit, which is configured separately from the aforementioned toggle switch and can be set so that the EV mode is selected when the vehicle starts up. The aforementioned controller, When the aforementioned startup mode setting unit does not set a mode, the HEV mode is selected as the preferred mode over the EV mode when the vehicle starts up. When the startup mode setting unit is configured, the EV mode is selected as the preferred mode over the HEV mode when the vehicle starts up. A hybrid vehicle system characterized by the following features.

3. In the hybrid vehicle system described in claim 2, The aforementioned startup mode setting unit is located adjacent to the toggle switch, with the shift lever in between. A hybrid vehicle system characterized by the following features.

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