A vehicle includes an engine; a fraction battery; and a controller or a battery control system having a controller. The controller is programed to respond to a predicted duration of charge sustaining operation for a drive cycle and a speed of the vehicle. When the predicted duration is greater than a predetermined duration and the speed is less than a speed threshold, the controller increases a state of charge threshold of the traction battery associated with triggering shut offs of the engine to reduce cycling of the engine during the drive cycle.