An　appropriate　control　strategy　can　play　an　important　role　in　further　improving　the　fuel　economy　performance　of　hybrid　electric　vehicle　(HEV).　This　research　developed　a　novel　adaptive　control　strategy　to　achieve　optimal　power　distribution　for　a　series-parallel　hybrid　electric　bus　(SPHEB)　to　adapt　driving　pattern　instantaneously.　First,　a　methodology　of　extracting　mode　transition　control　and　power　distribution　strategy　from　dynamic　programming　(DP)　solution　is　proposed　for　the　development　of　the　hierarchical　energy　management　strategy.　A　SPHEB　energy　management　problem　under　the　Chinese　typical　bus　driving　schedule　at　urban　district　(CTBDS_UD)　is　investigated　as　a　case　study.　Second,　an　approach　of　driving　pattern　recognition　(DPR)　module　is　developed.　For　adaptive　learning,　four　typical　driving　patterns　are　selected　as　the　database　of　driving　condition　and　using　the　extraction　method　described　above　to　acquire　optimal　control　strategies　for　four　driving　patterns.　Third,　a　framework　of　adaptive　control　strategy　has　been　proposed　based　on　the　extracted　hierarchical　energy　management　strategy　from　DP　and　combined　with　DPR.　Finally,　the　simulation　results　demonstrate　the　proposed　adaptive　strategy　can　make　power　distribution　proper　adjustments　in　real　time　and　be　capable　of　improving　significantly　the　fuel　efficiency　of　the　SPHEB.