The invention relates to a drive train for a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine, with a transmission and with an electric machine, wherein the electric machine is arranged between the internal combustion engine and the transmission. The drive train can be provided in a simple, economical and/or space-saving manner in that the transmission comprises at least one overrun-enabled forward gear transmitting traction torque only and at least one overrun-free forward gear. A hybrid vehicle can be operated with a drive train of this kind easily and efficiently in that, when an overrun-enabled forward gear transmitting only traction torque is engaged and while the vehicle speed lies below a certain engagement speed for an overrun-free forward gear and at least one criterion for the presence of a driving torque is established or satisfied, the transmission is shifted into the overrun-free forward gear.

A power plant is provided which is capable of not only achieving the improvement in responsiveness, weight reduction, and manufacturing cost reduction of the power plant, but also enhancing the efficiency of the vehicle. The rotational speeds of first to third rotary elements satisfy a collinear relationship in which the rotational speeds are aligned in a single straight line in a collinear chart in the mentioned order, with the first and second rotary elements being connected to a first rotating electric machine and wheels, respectively, and first and second blocking/connecting members of a first one-way clutch being connected to the first and second rotary elements, respectively. In a case where the first and second rotary elements rotate in a first predetermined rotational direction by transmission of rotational motive power from the first rotating electric machine, transmission of rotational motive power from the first blocking/connecting member to the second blocking/connecting member is blocked. In a case where the second and first rotary elements rotate in the first predetermined rotational direction by transmission of rotational motive power from the wheels, transmission of rotational motive power from the second blocking/connecting member to the first blocking/connecting member is connected. A second one-way clutch allows rotation of the third rotary element in the first predetermined rotational direction, and prevents rotation of the third rotary element in a direction opposite to the first predetermined rotational direction.

A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which defines a first drive-force transmitting path provided with a first clutch and a two-way clutch and a second drive-force transmitting path provided with a continuously variable transmission and a second clutch. The control apparatus switches the two-way clutch from its lock mode to its one-way mode, when the second drive-force transmitting path is to be established in place of the first drive-force transmitting path. The drive-force transmitting apparatus includes a hydraulic actuator configured to control switching of the two-way clutch between the lock mode and the one-way mode. When a request for establishing the second drive-force transmitting path in place of the first drive-force transmitting path is made during forward running of the vehicle with the two-way clutch being in the lock mode, the control apparatus executes a dither control for fluctuating a hydraulic pressure applied to the hydraulic actuator.

Systems and methods for an electric drive axle are provided. In one example, the electric drive axle may include an electric motor-generator rotationally coupled to a gearbox having a one-way clutch mounted on an output shaft and operable in an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, where in the engaged configuration, the one-way clutch transfers rotational energy from the output shaft to an output gear rotationally coupled to a plurality of drive wheels. The gearbox further includes a mode adjustment mechanism including a lock ring rotationally coupled to the output shaft and configured to selectively engage an input gear and the one-way clutch in a plurality of operating modes.

An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a second electric motor that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a clutch. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train in the form of a first planetary gear and a second gear train in the form of a second planetary gear. To provide a compact configuration, the first electric motor and second electric motor are arranged in a centerline orientation with the drive shaft.

A method of operating a shifting system for a vehicle transmission includes engaging a clutch to operatively couple one of first and second gear ratios to an input member, and moving a disconnect from a first disconnect position where a disconnectable component is disengaged from the disconnect, to a second disconnect position where the disconnectable component is engaged with the disconnect to operatively couple the other of the first and second gear ratios to the input member through a shifting assembly. Engaging the clutch and moving the disconnect are performed such that the clutch is operatively coupled to one of the first and second gear ratios at the same time that the shifting assembly is operatively coupled to the other one of the first and second gear ratios, thus preventing torque from being transmitted through either the first and second gear ratios of the vehicle transmission to park the vehicle.

A vehicle drive apparatus includes a fluid coupling connected to an engine, and a rotating electric machine connected to the engine via the fluid coupling. The fluid coupling has an impeller to which torque having been output from the engine is input, and a turbine facing the impeller. The impeller rotates about a rotation axis. Torque having been output from the impeller is input to the turbine via a fluid. The turbine rotates about the rotation axis. The vehicle drive apparatus has a path provided between an output shaft of the engine and the impeller, the path through which torque having been output from the engine is transmitted to the impeller not via the turbine, and paths through which torque having been input to the impeller is output via the rotating electric machine, passing through a radially outside relative to the impeller with respect to the rotation axis from the impeller via the turbine.

In an aspect, a drive arrangement for a vehicle is provided, comprising: an engine having a crankshaft; a crankshaft pulley; a one-way clutch between the crankshaft pulley and the crankshaft; a belt by the crankshaft pulley; and an electric motor having a pulley engaged with the belt. When the electric motor drives the belt in a first direction, the one-way clutch permits the belt to overrun the crankshaft pulley. The crankshaft defines an axis. The electric motor pulley is on a first axial side of the engine. A transmission is on a second axial side and is operatively connected to drive a vehicle wheel. The transmission has an input shaft. A first rotary drive member is on the input shaft; and a motor-transmission drive shaft is drivable by the motor and has a second rotary drive member thereon, which is operatively connected with the first transmission rotary drive member.

A vehicle drive apparatus including a speed change mechanism, a first and second motor-generators, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to perform controlling the speed change mechanism, the first motor-generator and the second motor-generator so as to switch a speed range to a low-speed range, operate the first motor-generator as a motor and operate the second motor-generator as a generator when a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined vehicle speed and an acceleration instruction is detected, and so as to switch the speed range to a high-speed range, operate the first motor-generator as a generator and operate the second motor-generator as a motor when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the predetermined vehicle speed and a deceleration instruction or a termination instruction of an acceleration is detected.

In a coasting control process, an ECU increases line pressure PL of a hydraulic path to predetermined pressure P1 such that discharge pressure of an MOP becomes higher than that before a C1 clutch is disengaged at timing when an executing condition of coasting control is satisfied (time t=t1). According to such coasting control process, driving torque of the MOP increases, so that deceleration (deceleration G) caused by driving of the MOP by a drive wheel becomes larger than that in conventional coasting control in which the discharge pressure of the MOP is not increased. As a result, it is possible to inhibit a driver from feeling discomfort due to free-running feeling generated during the coasting control.