A hybrid vehicle comprises an engine and a motor as power sources, the
output power of at least one of the engine and the motor being
transmitted to driving wheels for driving the hybrid vehicle, an
accelerator pedal for increasing and decreasing driving power of the
hybrid vehicle, and a drive control section which is provided for
operating and stopping the engine and the motor, and which is adapted to
control the engine and the motor in such a manner that when the engine is
stopped and the motor is operated solely for driving the hybrid vehicle,
change in desired output power is predicted, and the engine is maintained
to be stopped, even when the predicted output power falls in a drive zone
in which the engine is supposed to be operated, when the movement of the
accelerator pedal in a predetermined period is less than a predetermined
amount, and that the motor is controlled so as to output the predicted
output power for continuing drive of the vehicle solely by the motor.