Hybrid vehicle with electric transmission and electric drive module

The hybrid vehicle of clam 1, further comprising:

• a first clutch selectively engageable to connect the third member to the first final drive;
• a first brake selectively engageable to ground the third member to a stationary member;
• an electronic controller operatively connected to the electric machines, the first clutch, the first brake, and the engine;
• wherein a second pair of wheels is connected to the second axle;
• wherein the controller is configured to (i) determine if either wheel of the second pair of wheels is slipping, and (ii) if either wheel of the second pair of wheels is slipping, to either or both:
• direct electric power generated by the first electric machine to the energy storage device instead of to the second electric machine;
• and
• apply friction brake mechanisms operatively connected to the second pair of wheels.

A hybrid vehicle having a first axle and a second axle and comprising:

• an engine having a plurality of working chambers each operable for expanding a working fluid;
• an electric transmission that includes
• a differential gear set having a first member, a second member, and a third member;
• a first final drive;
• and a first electric machine;
• wherein the engine is connected for common rotation with the first member, the first electric machine is connected for common rotation with the second member, and the third member is operatively connectable with the first axle through the final drive by selective engagement of a first clutch and is grounded to a stationary member by selective engagement of a first brake;
• an electric drive module that includes a second electric machine operatively connectable to the second axle through a second final drive;
• an electronic controller operatively connected to the electric machines, the first clutch, the first brake, and the engine;
• wherein the controller is configured to switch between selectively operating all of the multiple working chambers and selectively operating only a predetermined number of the multiple working chambers that is less than all of the multiple working chambers;
• wherein the differential gear set and the first final drive are configured to establish, when the first clutch engaged, a single fixed torque ratio of torque of the first axle over torque of the engine;
• wherein the single fixed torque ratio is that at which any one of the working chambers that is operated to expand the working fluid can operate at wide open throttle, without torque of the engine torque exceeding a torque necessary to propel the vehicle at a steady vehicle speed, and with the second electric machine freewheeling;
• wherein the differential gear set and the first final drive establish with the first clutch engaged and the first electric machine stationary a fixed speed ratio of the speed of the engine over the speed of the first axle;
• wherein the engine is operating at a predetermined minimum speed required for steady engine torque at the fixed speed ratio and at the steady vehicle speed;
• and
• wherein the single fixed torque ratio is determined based on engine operation with only the predetermined number of the multiple working chambers.

A hybrid vehicle having a first axle and a second axle and comprising:

• an engine;
• an electric transmission that includes:
• a differential gear set having a first member, a second member, and a third member;
• a first final drive;
• and a first electric machine;
• wherein the engine is connected for common rotation with the first member, the first electric machine is connected for common rotation with the second member, and the third member is operatively connectable with the first axle through the first final drive;
• an electric drive module that includes a second electric machine operatively connectable to the second axle through a second final drive;
• wherein the electric transmission is configured to establish a fixed torque ratio of torque of the first axle over torque of the engine;
• wherein the engine operates without throttling and the electric transmission operates at the fixed torque ratio to propel the vehicle at a first steady vehicle speed with the second electric machine freewheeling;
• and wherein the engine operates without throttling and the electric transmission operates at the fixed torque ratio to propel the vehicle at a second steady vehicle speed with the first electric machine acting as a generator and with the second electric machine acting as a motor to propel the vehicle.