Accessory drive system and method for a hybrid vehicle with an electric variable transmission

An automotive accessory drive system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

• an engine;
• an electric variable transmission operatively connected to said engine, said electric variable transmission including:
• a gear arrangement configured to selectively produce a plurality of speed ratios;
• at least two motor/generators connected to said gear arrangement;
• and
• a storage device connected to said motor/generators;
• a drive pulley connected to an output shaft of said engine;
• a plurality of driven pulleys each of which is connected to one of a plurality of accessories;
• a drive belt connectively coupling said drive pulley and said plurality of driven pulleys and operable to transfer drive forces between said drive pulley and said plurality of driven pulleys;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the engine and the motor/generators, said controller configured to control the engine and the motor/generators to ensure said plurality of accessories are adequately powered without the need for individual motors for each accessory under all operating conditions.

A method for operating an accessory drive system of a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

• providing an engine operatively connected to an electric variable transmission;
• transferring energy from the electric variable transmission to a plurality of accessories;
• establishing a predefined minimum speed at which all of said plurality of accessories must be driven in order to remain fully operational;
• and
• controlling the electric variable transmission to produce a speed ratio selected to ensure that the speed at which the accessories are driven does not fall below the predefined minimum speed.