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.

This is one of the best videos on hybrid systems.

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

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

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.

Watching ur hybrid videos has made me appreciate my auris hybrid way more. Thank you!

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

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

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.

I drove Camry one time and I asked: HOW!? I must be super complicated. Then I search yt for its' components and now I want only this type of drive. Toyota's eCVT is miracle!

I feel the people that made the planetary gear system and this hybrid system and so many other parts of this hybrid possible. They are all genius's in their accomplishments!

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

Thank you for this series. The engineering of this technology is amazing.

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!

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

Dear Sir. This is the best video that I've ever seen. You were covered a lot in details about the Hybrid car. I had an ES300h Lexus and I'm try to learn about the car how does it work. Thanks a lot for your contribution the knowledge. I'm very enjoy your channel. Take care.

The more I know about my toyota corolla hybrid the more I love it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge