Hybrid vehicle

An engine control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a conversion angle detecting device (40), an angle determining device (step S101), an engine load calculating device (step S102) and an engine control device (step S103). The conversion angle detecting device (40) detects a rotational phase of a cam (35) with respect to a crankshaft (32) as a detected conversion angle of a variable valve operating mechanism (24) of an engine (1). The angle determining device (step S101) determines if the detected conversion angle is different from a starting conversion angle when the engine (1) is started. The engine load calculating device (step S102) calculates a requested load to be imposed on the engine (1) based on the detected conversion angle if the detected conversion angle is different from to the starting conversion angle at a time the engine (1) is started. The engine control device (step S103) controls the engine (1) in accordance with the requested engine load that was calculated.