Patent ID: 8838313

Claim:
A vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft; a rechargeable battery module; a transmission having: a stationary member; a first motor/generator unit (MGU) that is directly connected to the drive shaft engine in series with the engine; a single planetary gear set having a first, a second, and a third node; first, second, and third clutches, wherein the first clutch is a brake connected to the first node, the second clutch is a rotating clutch connected between the first MGU and the first node, and the third clutch is a passively-actuated one-way mechanical output clutch connected to the stationary member and to an output side of the first clutch; a second MGU directly connected to the third node; and an output member connected to the second node; and a controller having: a processor; and a tangible, non-transitory memory device on which is recorded computer-executable instructions for selecting between: a first powertrain operating mode having a first electric vehicle (EV) state and a first series hybrid state, wherein the first and second clutches are held open in the first EV state and in the first series hybrid state such that the single planetary gear set is powered solely by the second MGU via the third node, and wherein the third clutch is loaded and the second MGU provides positive output torque to the output member in both the first EV and the first series hybrid states; a second powertrain operating mode having a second EV state and a second series hybrid state, wherein in the second EV state only the first clutch is closed and a positive and negative torque are selectively provided from the second MGU to respectively power the single planetary gear set and charge the battery module, and wherein in the second series hybrid state the first clutch is closed, with the third clutch freewheeling in both states of the second mode; and a third powertrain operating mode providing a parallel hybrid mode in which only the second clutch is closed, the engine is on, and at least one of the first and the second MGUs provides positive or negative output torque to the output member while the third clutch freewheels; wherein execution of the instructions by the processor, in response to a received axle torque request by the controller, causes the controller to select between the modes and states, and to control an operation of the transmission according to the selected mode or state.