TEMPERATURE-BASED EMISSIONS STABILITY FLAG FOR HYBRID TORQUE HANDOFF

A system and method to implement a torque handoff between and electric machine and an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle are provided. To implement the torque handoff without undue delay, temperature of the exhaust gas is taken into consideration to determine whether an emissions stability criterium is met for handing off torque, and if the emissions stability criterium is met, the system and method are configured to handoff torque from the electric machine to the internal combustion engine. When the exhaust gas is sufficiently warm, it may be determined that the engine is operating with sufficiently low levels of hydrocarbons in accordance with emissions regulations, such that torque handoff may be made with confidence of maintaining emissions standards.