Patent ID: 8579751

Claim:
A powertrain comprising: an electric motor/generator; a differential gear set having a first member, a second member, and a third member; a layshaft transmission having a first input member connected to the first member and a second input member connected to the second member and having a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms each of which is selectively engageable to establish a different respective speed ratio through the transmission; at least one controller; wherein the motor/generator is connected for common rotation with the third member and is controlled by said at least one controller to establish a speed of the third member that permits simultaneous engagement and disengagement of the torque-transmitting mechanisms to shift from one of the respective speed ratios to a successive one of the respective speed ratios; a stationary member; and a clutch selectively engageable to connect the second member to the stationary member, thereby enabling an electric-only operating mode when the motor/generator is controlled to function as a motor and any one of the torque-transmitting mechanisms is engaged.