FAST AWAKENING OXYGEN SENSOR

A vehicle includes at least a first oxygen sensor having a sensing element and a heater. The vehicle also includes an electric energy storage system, an internal combustion engine, and a controller controllably coupled to the electric energy storage system, the internal combustion engine and in communication with the at least a first oxygen sensor. The controller includes an oxygen sensor awakening module configured to respond to the controller receiving a prestart notification indicative of an imminent internal combustion engine start by comparing a temperature of the sensing element of the first oxygen sensor to a target temperature and heating the sensing element until the sensing element is at least the target temperature when the heating element is below the target temperature, and starting the internal combustion engine subsequent to heating the sensing element.