Traveling mode switching controller of hybrid electric vehicle

A traveling mode switching controller of a hybrid electric vehicle has a state-of-charge detection unit (11a); a driver request output detection unit (20); a correction unit (20a); and a switching control unit (20) for controlling a switch from a first traveling mode to a second traveling mode when a vehicle request output exceeds an output threshold value. In the first traveling mode, an engine (2) is deactivated and a drive motor (4, 6) is activated. In the second traveling mode, drive wheels 3, 5) are actuated by means of driving power of the engine (2), or a generator (9) connected to the engine (2) is activated to generate electric power to activate the drive motor (4, 6) to actuate the drive wheels (3, 5). The switching control unit (20) sets the output threshold value low as the state of charge decreases, thereby changing conditions for switching the first traveling mode to the second traveling mode.