Brake responsive vehicle electric drive system

A vehicle electric drive system, comprising:

• a brake system having operator controlled left and right brake command members operative connected to a vehicle brake system;
• left and right brake transducers, each coupled to a corresponding one of the brake command members, and generating a brake position signal representing a position of the corresponding brake command member;
• an electric drive system having an internal combustion engine, an engine driven electric motor/generator, a first inverter/rectifier coupled to the driven motor/generator, a buss coupled to the first inverter/rectifier, a second inverter/rectifier coupled to the buss, and a traction motor/generator coupled to an output of the second inverter/rectifier and drivingly coupled to driven vehicle wheels, an operator speed control member, and a controller coupled to the second inverter/rectifier for controlling a current output of the second inverter/rectifier as a function of a position of the speed control member, the controller receiving the brake position signals and coordinating operation of the electric drive system with operation of the brake command members.