Drive train for a vehicle

A vehicle operable in a plurality of modes of operation, the vehicle comprising:

• a first motor/generator;
• a second motor/generator electrically coupled to the first motor/generator by an electrical power transmission system;
• and
• an engine coupled to the first motor/generator and configured to drive the first motor/generator to provide electrical energy,
• wherein the plurality of modes of operation includes a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, and wherein the vehicle travels at a higher speed in the first mode of operation than in the second mode of operation;
• and
• wherein, in the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation, the first motor/generator operates without being electrically coupled to an energy storage device that is configured to be charged by the electrical energy from the first motor/generator.

A method of operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

• operating the vehicle in a first mode of operation by:
• driving, by an engine, a first electromagnetic device to generate electrical energy, the first electromagnetic device being electrically coupled to a second electromagnetic device;
• consuming, by the second electromagnetic device, at least a portion of the electrical energy generated by the first electromagnetic device while the first electromagnetic device is driven by the engine;
• and
• driving, by the second electromagnetic device, a drive axle to propel the vehicle at a first speed;
• and
• operating the vehicle in a second mode of operation by:
• driving, by the engine, the first electromagnetic device to generate additional electrical energy;
• consuming, by the second electromagnetic device, at least a portion of the additional electrical energy generated by the first electromagnetic device while the first electromagnetic device is driven by the engine;
• and
• driving, by the second electromagnetic device, the drive axle to propel the vehicle at a second speed greater than the first speed,
• wherein the electrical energy and the additional electrical energy generated by the first electromagnetic device while the first electromagnetic device is driven by the engine are never provided to an energy storage device.