Patent ID: 7572201

Claim:
A hybrid electric vehicle powertrain comprising an engine, an electric motor, an electric generator, a battery and gearing defining power flow paths between the motor and vehicle traction wheels and between the engine and the vehicle traction wheels; the gearing including a gear unit having at least one power input gear element, a power output gear element and a reaction gear element, the power input gear element being in the power flow path between the engine and first vehicle traction wheels, the power output gear element being connected drivably to the first vehicle traction wheels; and a clutch and brake assembly for establishing forward drive gearing ratios and one reverse drive gearing ratio in the gear unit; the motor being mechanically connected to second vehicle traction wheels; the generator, the motor and the battery being electrically coupled in the power flow path between the motor and the traction wheels; the gearing further including a powersplit planetary gearset having one gearset element connected to the engine, a second gearset element connected to the generator and a third gearset element connected by the clutch and brake assembly to the at least one power input element of the gear unit.