Vehicular drive system

Abstract

A second electric motor is arranged on a first axis on which an output shaft of the engine is arranged, a transmission is arranged on a second axis which is parallel with the first axis, and a clutch is arranged on the first axis to selectively connect and disconnect the second electric motor and the transmission to and from the engine. Power on the first axis is transmitted to an input shaft of the transmission via a power transmitting mechanism.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A vehicular drive system, comprising:
 an engine;   a first electric motor;   a second electric motor that is arranged on a second axis which is parallel with a first axis on which an output shaft of the engine is arranged;   a transmission that is arranged on the second axis;   a clutch that is arranged on the first axis and can selectively connect and disconnect the second electric motor and the transmission to and from the engine, the transmission being arranged parallel to the engine and the clutch; and   a power transmitting mechanism that is arranged between the second electric motor and the transmission and transmits power on the first axis to an input shaft of the transmission.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicular drive system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first electric motor is arranged on the first axis. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicular drive system according to  claim 11 , wherein the transmission includes a planetary gear set and a brake which selectively stops the rotation of a rotating element of the planetary gear set, and wherein the first electric motor and the brake are arranged offset from one another in the axial direction. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicular drive system according to  claim 10 , wherein the power transmitting mechanism is arranged on the opposite side of the clutch from the engine. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicular drive system according to  claim 10 , wherein the power transmitting mechanism is a gear set.