Patent ID: 8091677

Claim:
A powertrain for propelling and controlling a hybrid vehicle having a first and a second rear wheel and a pair of front wheels, said powertrain comprising: a front drivetrain operatively connected to the pair of front wheels for driving the pair of front wheels to propel the vehicle; wherein said front drivetrain is a fully hybrid system including an engine and at least one front motor; wherein each of the engine and said at least one front motor are operatively connected to the pair of front wheels for driving the pair of front wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle; a first rear drive motor operatively connected to the first rear wheel for driving the first rear wheel; a second rear drive motor operatively connected to the second rear wheel for driving the second rear wheel, independent of said first rear drive motor driving said first rear wheel; and a controller operatively connected to each of said first and second rear drive motors and said at least one front motor and configured for operating at least one of said motors; wherein each of said rear drive motors are responsive to said controller to send torque to the first and second rear wheels to differentiate at least one of a torque and a rotational speed between each of the rear wheels; wherein each of said rear drive motors is responsive to said controller to reduce the torque to the first and second rear wheels to decelerate the hybrid vehicle; an energy storage device operatively connected to the first and second rear drive motors and said at least one front motor; wherein said energy storage device is configured to transmit power to said first and second rear drive motors to drive the first and second rear wheels; wherein said energy storage device is configured to receive power from said first and second rear drive motors upon reduction of torque to the first and second rear wheels to decelerate the hybrid vehicle; wherein said energy storage device is configured to transmit power to said at least one front motor to drive the pair of front wheels; and wherein said fully hybrid system is configured to selectively power said at least one front motor as a sole source of propulsion for the hybrid vehicle.