Battery control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which is capable of improving the time of continuous availability for use of the battery by controlling the amount of charge/discharge in accordance with a change in the voltage characteristic of the battery. The hybrid vehicle comprises a combustion engine for outputting driving force of the vehicle, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from the engine, and a battery for supplying power to the motor and for storing energy regenerated by the motor acting as a generator when the assisting force is not required. The battery control apparatus for controlling the battery comprises a remaining battery charge calculator for calculating a remaining charge of the battery, a memory effect detector for detecting the occurrence of the memory effect in the battery, a use permission zone determining device for determining the use permission zone of the remaining charge of the battery in accordance with the occurrence of the memory effect, and a charge/discharge amount controller for controlling an amount of charge/discharge in the use permission zone of the remaining charge of the battery.