Patent ID: 7568539

Claim:
A hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine (E) having a crankshaft ( 15 ); a transmission (T) that has an input shaft ( 16 ) joined coaxially to the crankshaft ( 15 ) and an output shaft ( 17 ) disposed in parallel to the input shaft ( 16 ), and is capable of changing the gear ratio between the input shaft ( 16 ) and the output shaft ( 17 ); and a generator/motor (M 1 ) that is disposed at a position sandwiched between the engine (E) and the transmission (T) and a position off an axis (L) of the input shaft ( 16 ), and transmits its driving force to any position of a power transmission pathway between the output shaft ( 17 ) and a differential gear ( 19 ); and a starter motor (M 2 ) that can crank the crankshaft ( 15 ) and is disposed at a position sandwiched between the engine (E) and the transmission (T); the vehicle being capable of traveling by means of either one or both of the driving force of the engine (E) and the driving force of the generator/motor (M 1 ) and at least parts of the generator/motor (M 1 ) and the starter motor (M 2 ) overlapping each other when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis (L).