To　improve　fuel　economy　of　a　novel　series-parallel　hybrid　electric　bus　(SPHEB),　a　real-time　optimization　control　strategy　was　proposed.　According　to　the　characteristics　of　the　novel　series-parallel　structure,　the　switching　boundary　condition　between　series　and　parallel　mode　as　well　as　the　control　rules　were　set　up.　The　equivalent　fuel　model　of　battery　was　established.　To　minimize　the　fuel　consumption　at　each　sampled　time,　real-time　optimization　control　of　the　engine　and　battery　was　conducted.　The　results　indicate　that　the　proposed　strategy　can　not　only　sustain　the　charged　battery　in　balance　within　its　operational　range　and　keep　the　engine　operation　points　within　the　peak　efficiency　region,　but　also　increase　the　fuel　economy　of　novel　SPHEB　dramatically　by　32.41%,　compared　with　the　prototype　bus,　and　reduce　the　fuel　consumption　by　13.2%,　compared　with　rule-based　strategy.