Patent ID: 7503871

Claim:
A hybrid electric vehicle powertrain for a vehicle having a set of front traction wheels and a set of rear traction wheels comprising: an internal combustion engine; a multiple-ratio transmission with a torque input shaft drivably connected to a power output shaft for the engine and a power output shaft drivably connected to one of the sets of traction wheels; a first electric motor connected directly to the engine power output shaft whereby electric motor torque of the first electric motor complements engine driving torque and is adapted to provide engine starting torque; a second electric motor connected drivably to a second of the sets of traction wheels; a battery electrically coupled to the first and second electric motors; the second electric motor, during a ratio shift of the multiple-ratio transmission, providing wheel torque to the second set of traction wheels as driving torque from the engine to the first set of traction wheels is reduced during a ratio shift interval of the multiple-ratio transmission.