HYBRID VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

In the case that the motor travel priority mode is set and the restriction mode is set as the control mode because of the request of the operation of the engine (22), the threshold value (Peg) that is smaller value between the obtained value (kw·Wout) from multiplying the output limit (Wout) of the battery (50) by the preset conversion factor (kw) and the preset power (Pset) that is smaller than the converted output limit (Wout) of the battery (50) at a normal time is compared with the driving power (Pdrv*). The hybrid vehicle (20) is driven with the motor travel in idle operation of the engine (22) when the driving power (Pdrv*) is not more than the threshold value (Peg), and the hybrid vehicle (20) is driven with power from the engine (22) when the driving power (Pdrv*) is more than the threshold value (Peg).