Hybrid Transmission Design

[Howard]

I haven't seen a good description of how the hybrid's transmission operates other than it's being a CVT and not a belt and variable pulley setup like some early CVTs. Perhaps I missed it.

Motor Trend magazine has an article on the 2026 Jeep Cherokee hybrid that goes into some detail on how it operates. It is based on a Toyota designed system that many manufacturers including Ford are using. It uses planetary gears with the ICE and electric motors driving various bits of the gearing to achieve the ratios as needed and I'm sure only able to be done with extensive computer controls. Further explanation is well beyond my pay grade.

Read about it at https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-jeep-cherokee-hybrid-powertrain-deep-dive?

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[Mavster Mechanic]

Literally thousands of good descriptions of the hybrid transmission out there and on here.

It has been almost unchanged for 20 years.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I haven't seen a good description of how the hybrid's transmission operates other than it's being a CVT and not a belt and variable pulley setup like some early CVTs. Perhaps I missed it.

Motor Trend magazine has an article on the 2026 Jeep Cherokee hybrid that goes into some detail on how it operates. It is based on a Toyota designed system that many manufacturers including Ford are using. It uses planetary gears with the ICE and electric motors driving various bits of the gearing to achieve the ratios as needed and I'm sure only able to be done with extensive computer controls. Further explanation is well beyond my pay grade.

Read about it at https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-jeep-cherokee-hybrid-powertrain-deep-dive?

The Ford Maverick has a E-CVT nothing like normal CVT.
The Maverick e CVT uses planetary gears instead of pulleys and "rubber bands" Yes I'm joking about the rubber bands. Driving an ordinary CVT feels like rubber bands in the transmission.

 

[icegradner]

CVT feels like rubber bands in the transmission.

Yes, traditional CVTs suck. I had a loaner Elantra while my last car was out for repairs, felt like driving a potato, hesitating all the time. The eCVT is smooth as butter, with none of the hesitation or delays with power delivery.

 

[CanadianBaseMav]

Literally thousands of good descriptions of the hybrid transmission out there and on here.

It has been almost unchanged for 20 years.

The ecvt is nothing like previous mechanical cvt's.

 

[stevj]

I haven't seen a good description of how the hybrid's transmission operates other than it's being a CVT and not a belt and variable pulley setup like some early CVTs. Perhaps I missed it.

Check this out. It gives a good general description of the operation of the ECVT.


Steve

 

[Benilla]

ecvt probably the most bulletproof thing on the hybrid LOL

 

[Suzukiridr14]

I haven't seen a good description of how the hybrid's transmission operates other than it's being a CVT and not a belt and variable pulley setup like some early CVTs. Perhaps I missed it.

Motor Trend magazine has an article on the 2026 Jeep Cherokee hybrid that goes into some detail on how it operates. It is based on a Toyota designed system that many manufacturers including Ford are using. It uses planetary gears with the ICE and electric motors driving various bits of the gearing to achieve the ratios as needed and I'm sure only able to be done with extensive computer controls. Further explanation is well beyond my pay grade.

Read about it at https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-jeep-cherokee-hybrid-powertrain-deep-dive?

I've been on this forum from the very beginning, and I don't remember ever reading anyone having a problem with the eCVT used on the Maverick. It's the one thing without recalls!

 

[phoneguyinpgh]

Watch that video from SteveJ. The motor on the right is the main traction motor, when the wheels are turning, so is that motor in forward and reverse and it provides most of the regenerative breaking. The motor on the left functions as the ICE starter, the alternator and (when the ICE is running) depending on which direction it is turning and how fast provides either a variable gearing increase or reduction. So that is where the magic of the eCVT happens, with that motor and the planetary set that is connected to the ICE. Also, the eCVT has 1/3 the parts of a conventional automatic. That last point really sold me on the Mav hybrid.

 

[Dad]

I haven't seen a good description of how the hybrid's transmission operates other than it's being a CVT and not a belt and variable pulley setup like some early CVTs. Perhaps I missed it.

Motor Trend magazine has an article on the 2026 Jeep Cherokee hybrid that goes into some detail on how it operates. It is based on a Toyota designed system that many manufacturers including Ford are using. It uses planetary gears with the ICE and electric motors driving various bits of the gearing to achieve the ratios as needed and I'm sure only able to be done with extensive computer controls. Further explanation is well beyond my pay grade.

Read about it at https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-jeep-cherokee-hybrid-powertrain-deep-dive?

Thanks for posting that which may be considered "old" information for newer members who had the same questions about the transmission on the hybrid.

 

[HeyBales]

From semi-active MTC member (sold the long term test Maverick IIRC).
Why read when you can watch!
This is tad simpler than Weber for techs.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

LOL I was going to go find both of those videos ^^

The Maverick hybrid eCVT is similar to Prius eCVTs, which last a long long time!

 

[710-oil-614]

I haven't seen a good description of how the hybrid's transmission operates other than it's being a CVT and not a belt and variable pulley setup like some early CVTs. Perhaps I missed it.

Motor Trend magazine has an article on the 2026 Jeep Cherokee hybrid that goes into some detail on how it operates. It is based on a Toyota designed system that many manufacturers including Ford are using. It uses planetary gears with the ICE and electric motors driving various bits of the gearing to achieve the ratios as needed and I'm sure only able to be done with extensive computer controls. Further explanation is well beyond my pay grade.

Read about it at https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-jeep-cherokee-hybrid-powertrain-deep-dive?

Toyota and Ford codeveloped their hybrid drivetrains and shared original patents. Ford did not copy and Ford did not borrow the technology.

Those patents are no longer relevant.

This is on the HF35 (we're now on the HF55) but Weber Auto is the best at helping you understand

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

710 is right.

Long about turn of the century, Ford and Toyota both independently, without collaboration, developed nearly identical eCVT transmissions.

More evidence it was the correct way to do it.
Toyota hit the open market first.
But the two sides met like adults. Both agreeing it was the ideal transmission for a Hybrid.

While Toyota got the patent first, in a very gentlemanly agreement, Toyota let Ford use it. In return, Ford let Toyota use one/some of it's patent(s). I think it was Ford tech for anti-lock brakes.

But I'm going off memory from 20 years ago. May have been slightly different.

Bottom line: no one got sued and both sides got something.

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