An electrically variable transmission, comprising: an input member; a first motor-generator and a second motor-generator; a gear reduction arrangement including at least a first gear member coupled to at least one second gear member, the first gear member coupled to the second motor-generator for common rotation therewith; a first planetary gear set having a first sun gear member, a first ring gear member and a first carrier member rotatably supporting a plurality of pinion gears in meshing engagement with the first sun gear member and the first ring gear member, the first sun gear member coupled to the first motor-generator for common rotation therewith, the first carrier member coupled to the input member for common rotation therewith, and the first ring gear member coupled to the at least one second gear member of the gear reduction arrangement; a stationary member, and a torque transmitting device configured to selectively fix or ground rotation of the input member in at least one of a first rotational direction and a second opposite rotational direction, said torque transmitting device including a selectively engagable clutch brake configured to selectively fix or ground rotation of the input member to the stationary member in at least one of a first rotational direction and a second opposite rotational direction; wherein the gear reduction arrangement includes a second planetary gear set including the first gear member as a second sun gear member, the at least one second gear member as a second plurality of pinion gear members, a second ring gear member, and a second carrier member rotatably supporting the second plurality of pinion gear members in meshing engagement with the second ring gear member and the second sun gear member; wherein the second ring gear member is rotationally fixed to ground and the second carrier member is coupled to the first ring gear member for common rotation therewith, wherein the second carrier member is connected to the first ring gear member with a layshaft and the transmission further comprises an output member non-rotatably coupled to the layshaft, and wherein the clutch brake is positioned on a first side of the first motor-generator and first planetary gear set and the output member is positioned about a second opposite side between the first motor-generator and first planetary gear set and the second motor-generator and second planetary gear set. an input member; a first motor-generator and a second motor-generator; a gear reduction arrangement including at least a first gear member coupled to at least one second gear member, the first gear member coupled to the second motor-generator for common rotation therewith; a first planetary gear set having a first sun gear member, a first ring gear member and a first carrier member rotatably supporting a plurality of pinion gears in meshing engagement with the first sun gear member and the first ring gear member, the first sun gear member coupled to the first motor-generator for common rotation therewith, the first carrier member coupled to the input member for common rotation therewith, and the first ring gear member coupled to the at least one second gear member of the gear reduction arrangement; a stationary member, and a torque transmitting device configured to selectively fix or ground rotation of the input member in at least one of a first rotational direction and a second opposite rotational direction, said torque transmitting device including a selectively engagable clutch brake configured to selectively fix or ground rotation of the input member to the stationary member in at least one of a first rotational direction and a second opposite rotational direction; wherein the gear reduction arrangement includes a second planetary gear set including the first gear member as a second sun gear member, the at least one second gear member as a second plurality of pinion gear members, a second ring gear member, and a second carrier member rotatably supporting the second plurality of pinion gear members in meshing engagement with the second ring gear member and the second sun gear member; wherein the second ring gear member is rotationally fixed to ground and the second carrier member is coupled to the first ring gear member for common rotation therewith, wherein the second carrier member is connected to the first ring gear member with a layshaft and the transmission further comprises an output member non-rotatably coupled to the layshaft, and wherein the clutch brake is positioned on a first side of the first motor-generator and first planetary gear set and the output member is positioned about a second opposite side between the first motor-generator and first planetary gear set and the second motor-generator and second planetary gear set.