US Patent 7099768 Automatic shutdown control for vehicular internal combustion

An automatic shutdown control apparatus for a vehicular internal combustion engine, which permits automatic shutdown of an internal combustion engine when a value indicative of vehicle driving history is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value. The control apparatus automatically shuts down the internal combustion engine when a predetermined shutdown condition including the automatic shutdown permission is satisfied while the internal combustion engine is operating. The control apparatus detects the degree of congestion of the road, and sets the reference value smaller when the degree of congestion is high.