A powertrain comprises a planetary gearing arrangement that includes two sun gear members, two ring gear members, a single carrier member, and an interconnecting member that connects either the two sun gear members or the two ring gear members. The powertrain includes an input member and an output member, one of which is connectable to the carrier member and the other of which is connectable to the first ring gear member. A first electric machine and a second electric machine are included in the powertrain. The second electric machine is operatively connected to the first sun gear member to drive the first sun gear member, and the first electric machine is operatively connected to drive that one of the second ring gear member and the second sun gear member which is not connected to the interconnecting member. A brake is selectively engageable to hold the input member stationary.

A two-speed transaxle for an electric vehicle has an input shaft receiving power from an electric motor, and two output shafts delivering power to drive the vehicle. At least one epicyclic gear set is used. Each epicylic gear set has only an outer gear member, each of which meshingly engage a plurality of planet gears supported on a common carrier. The two-speed transaxle produces its first forward speed ratio when a first caliper brake system and a second caliper brake system are disengaged and a one-way clutch connects the first sun gear to the transaxle casing. Second forward speed ratio results when the second hydraulic brake is engaged to fix the second sun gear. Reverse drive and regenerative operation result when the first hydraulic brake fixes the first sun gear and the direction of power flow is reversed.

A powertrain comprises a planetary gearing arrangement that includes two sun gear members, two ring gear members, a single carrier member, and an interconnecting member that connects either the two sun gear members or the two ring gear members. The powertrain includes an input member and an output member, one of which is connectable to the carrier member and the other of which is connectable to the first ring gear member. A first electric machine and a second electric machine are included in the powertrain. The second electric machine is operatively connected to the first sun gear member to drive the first sun gear member, and the first electric machine is operatively connected to drive that one of the second ring gear member and the second sun gear member which is not connected to the interconnecting member. A brake is selectively engageable to hold the input member stationary.

The invention relates to a method to start a combustion engine in a hybrid powertrain by a) disconnecting rotatable components of a first planetary gear from each other, b) disconnecting rotatable components of a second planetary gear from each other, c) preventing rotation of at least one gear pair, which is connected with the first planetary gear and an output shaft and at least one gear pair, which is connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft, prevent rotation of the output shaft, and e) activating a first electrical machine connected to the first planetary gear, and/or a second electrical machine connected to the second planetary gear, so that the combustion engine starts.

Methods and systems for an electric drive. The electric drive system includes, in one example, an electric machine, and a multi-speed transmission rotationally coupled to the electric machine, rotationally coupled to two output shafts. The multi-speed transmission includes a differentiating meshed planet compound planetary gear set rotationally coupled and positioned coaxial to a mode planetary gear set and a mode clutch configured to shift between two operating modes.