Low content extended-range electric vehicle powertrain

An extended-range electric vehicle comprising:

• a set of drive wheels;
• an engine having an output shaft;
• a planetary gear set having first, second, and third nodes, wherein the first node is connected to and driven by the engine output shaft only when the engine is on;
• a passively-rectified wound field device connected to the second node, and configured to operate only as a generator, and only when the engine is on;
• a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) having an input side that is connected to the third node;
• a multi-phase motor/generator unit (MGU) connected to an output side of the SOWC;
• a power transmission shaft connecting the MGU to the drive wheels;
• an auxiliary starter motor adapted for cranking the engine;
• and
• a controller having an algorithm adapted for controlling the engine, the wound field device, the MGU, the SOWC, and the starter motor as needed to provide each of a forward electric-only (EV) mode, a reverse EV mode, at least one power-split mode, and at least one series mode, wherein the at least one series mode provides a direct mechanical path between the engine and the drive wheels, and wherein the SOWC overruns in at least one of the forward and reverse EV modes.

A powertrain for an extended-range electric vehicle having a set of drive wheels and a power transmission shaft connected to the drive wheels, the powertrain comprising:

• an engine having an output shaft;
• a planetary gear set having three nodes, one of which is connected to and driven by the output shaft of the engine only when the engine is on;
• a first electric machine directly connected to another one of the three nodes;
• a one-way clutch having an input side connected to the remaining one of the three nodes;
• and
• a second electric machine adapted to operate alternatively as a motor and a generator, and connected, either directly or indirectly, to an output side of the one-way clutch and to the power transmission shaft;
• wherein the powertrain is controllable to provide a forward electric-only (EV) mode, a reverse EV mode, at least one power-split mode, and at least one series mode, with the at least one series mode providing a direct mechanical path between the engine and the drive wheels, and with the one-way clutch overrunning in the forward EV mode.