How Toyota Hybrid System Work Part 3 Hybrid Transmission

That hybrid transmission is something special. When you look how simple it is, yet how flawlessly it performs and reliable it is, it's a really incredible piece of engineering. It's an insult to call it a CVT.

Toyota Hybrid systems are the pinnacle of system engineering.

Seeing you discuss the Prius CVT made me want to share my thoughts on it. What's called a planetary in the video is a differential, a differential is only planetary gears. Differentials are used in all cars to keep power applied to the drive wheels equally while turning corners. You may remember a time when one drive wheel slips in mud or snow and the other wheel goes nowhere. So imagine a rear wheel drive car with one rear tire removed and pretend the car magically stays suspended. Then disconnect the hand brake from the wheel thats on the ground and leave it attached only to the floating brake hub. Put the car in gear and try to drive it. It won't go anywhere. Like in the snow, the hub will only just spin because of the differential. Then start applying the hand brake to that hub, slowing it down, and the differential will put torque on the other wheel. The car will go and you can control the engine rpm and vehicle speed with the combined use of the gas pedal and the handbrake. If you put enough pressure on the handbrake so that the hub completely stops, the differential will pass all the power to the drive wheel. That's the principle behind the Prius CVT. Now replace the handbrake with a generator and instead of creating a lot of heat with the handbrake you create electricity with the generator. Increasing the field current of the generator produces more electricity and puts more of a load on the differential. Consequently more torque is applied to the other wheel. Of course, the electricity needs a place to go so put a motor directly on the other wheel, a battery to store fluctuations of demand, a computer to control the whole system, and you have a Prius! No friction parts in the CVT since it's only basically a differential. When slowing, the engine stops, the generator just spins with no field current, and the motor acts as a generator, charging the battery while slowing the car. Finally the brakes bring the car to a stop. So the Prius actually has two differentials (planataries), one is the CVT and the other is just the usual one on the wheels. All elegantly put into the same shell with the motor and generator. To recap, the CVT differential has three shafts, the engine, the generator, and the motor which is always connected directly to the usual wheel differential.

Prof John Kelly does a excellent job of disassembly of a Toyota E-CVT at the Weber Auto channel.

My 2023 Rav4 Hybrid XLE Premium arrives in two months. I am watching these videos to learn about my new vehicle. Thanks for sharing such complicated technology so clearly.

Dude I'm a old shade tree mechanic, and you help me understand so much. I wish I can add a Toyota hybrid to my old 350 Chevy truck.

You have my gratitude amd appreciation. I felt like one of my elder brothers explaining. Comfortable pace to comprehend.

Great job, Couple of comments to amplify what you said, without getting too technical: At 5:15, when you run the engine fast, the MG1 goes much faster, and so MG1 uses most of the engine power to send to MG2. So, engine spinning faster and wheels still spinning slow; That acts like a lower "gear" to make the CVT action work, even though no shiftable gears are involved. At 7:00, battery can only take so much from MG2 on electro-braking. If more braking needed, the disc brakes kick in to help out.

You might have mentioned that the "planetary" is a gearset, a kind of differential, and that the e-CVT is essentially a 1-speed transmission that requires help from MG2 to accelerate normally. Also, the Prius was introduced in Japan and elsewhere in 1997.

This is one of the best videos on hybrid systems.

Enjoying every bit of this explanation of Hybrid technology. What a marvel of engineering!

One thing I have never done, and would never do is laugh at Toyota we own three of them one is a Highlander hybrid, and we just love it, Great video thank you

Thank you, great work! Clear, simple and to the point. And not to much input to get an understanding how things work.

I've only just found this video and it has answered a lot of questions. I bought a Toyota Auris mainly because I saw how many taxi and hire car drivers were using them. Also because of the number on the market with over 100,000 miles on the clock but still commanding good prices. It all seemed to say "reliability" to me but I often wondered how the CVT promoted such reliability. Now I know - No Belts. I think my Auris is great by the way, easy to drive quiet, dependable and, as I have an estate version, I can get all my tools in the back!

Amazing series. Everything I wanted to understand but no one at our local Toyota dealership had any clue about. Fantastic.

Yes, I learn something new from this video.Your explanation are easy to follow. Thanks a lot.

I used to laugh at prius….now that i understand the workings, im in awe! Such a cool design

Wow I have a Prius and a rav4, both hybrids and I love them and I love this series even more. It’s so much simpler than I thought!!! It’s basic design and now I know what they call it regenerative braking! This is so damn cool! Prius has been hands down my most reliable Toyota to date and I have had two tercels, an older corona wagon, Camry, Prius and rav4. I love love love my Toyotas

I ALWAYS learn something new & useful watching your product videos ! Keep them rolling Mr CCN . 👌

Your knowledge and advice are invaluable, I'm thinking of buying an ls600h 2010 model Your in depth advice is really useful, thankyou