ENGINE STARTUP CONTROL DEVICE FOR HYBRID VEHICLE

In a hybrid vehicle, when using an ignition start to start a direct injection engine 12 while any one of the cylinders has stopped near top dead center, engine revolutions NE are raised by producing a first explosion in a first cylinder K1, which is situated before a second cylinder K2 in an ignition sequence, is in an expansion stroke and in which an exhaust value is not open, by directly injecting fuel into the first cylinder K1 and igniting the fuel, and furthermore assistance in increasing the engine revolutions NE is start by transmitting assist torque output from a motor-generator MG to the direct injection engine 12 via a KO clutch 34, in a peak section L immediately after the start of increase in the engine revolutions NE. The stopped direct injection engine 12 can be started using a sufficient required assist torque, namely, electrical energy, whereby the electrical energy for engine starting reserved always in a battery (accumulator apparatus) 44 is reduced and therefore an EV travel range is increased and vehicle fuel consumption is improved appropriately.