How a Prius transmission works

[Scuffers]

2 questions, Simon:

1. Which mechs are used by other hybrids?

2. how do F1 cars implement it?

Toyota seem to used basically the same concept on all their hybrids, the bigger ones used a different cvt but essentially the same layout.

Honda use a single mgu on the gearbox shaft, not sure what Hyundai/Kia do.

F1 is a bit irrelevant as they are mandated by regs to run the mgu on the crankshaft.

To be blunt, hybrid is dead, EV is the way forward, be that pure battery or range extended with petrol/fuel cell/etc.

That said, battery tech is moving fast, teslas own battery tech has made a major step in life, and capacity, doubling the power dencity with their new cells.

So range extended EV which is GOOD

Parts count

1 traction motor + inverter
1 generator + inverter
1 battery
1 ICE


Prius parts count = BAD

1 traction motor + inverter
1 motor generator + inverter
1 battery
1 ICE
1 power split device


Now unless i am missing something we are talking about basically the same amount of parts

However

The prius has a smaller generator and a smaller traction motor as using the power split device allows engine torque to act directly on the wheels

A range extended EV can't do that so the traction motor and generator have to be bigger

The prius design is very lotus. Simple, light and some parts do more than one job

It's far from simple and light, as well as being saddled with all the disadvantages of conventional IC power-train design (ie, the IC located to mechanically drive the front wheels, etc etc)

And at the end of the day, if the whole point in doing it is for efficiency, it fails miserably.

[thinfourth]

I guess it must be the hydraulic system i am failing to get my head around