Operation of a hybrid vehicle after detecting that a lower fuel filling level has been reached or undershot

Abstract

A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electrical machine for driving the hybrid vehicle is provided, where the internal combustion engine is supplied with fuel from a fuel tank, a fuel filling level of the fuel tank being determined using a fuel filling level sensor, wherein the electrical machine is supplied with electrical energy from an energy store, and the vehicle is configured to be driven in a purely electric mode, with the internal combustion engine switched off, using the electrical machine. In certain embodiments, the method includes establishing that the fuel filling level sensor indicates that a lower filling level has been reached or undershot, and, in response to this establishing, switching off the internal combustion engine and driving the vehicle in the purely electric mode, with the internal combustion engine switched off, using the electrical machine. Following said driving the vehicle in the purely electric mode of the vehicle, the method further includes switching on the internal combustion engine and driving the vehicle using the internal combustion engine in a special mode with the internal combustion engine switched on when one or more conditions for the special mode are satisfied.