Four Modes of Operation Let's walk through the four modes in which the 2011 Chevrolet Volt works.
Mode 1: Low-speed electric-only mode up to 70 mph. The main traction motor-generator is turning, but it can only go so fast. Here the ring gear is locked so it can't turn. The second motor-generator and the engine are disconnected and out of the picture. The main traction motor is left alone to drive the sun gear from battery power, which sets the planets in orbit. The orbit speed is sent out through the carrier and is proportional to vehicle speed.
Mode 2: High-speed electric-only mode up to top speed (100 mph). The engine remains dormant. Now the ring gear unlocks and is instead clutched to the second motor-generator, which is acting as a motor to set the ring in motion. With the sun already spinning, any rotation of the ring in the same direction will increase the overall orbit speed of the planets, which in turn increases vehicle speed beyond 70 mph.
Mode 3: Low-speed series hybrid mode up to 70 mph. Gasoline is now the base fuel that's propelling the Volt in series-hybrid fashion. The battery has run down as far as the control system will allow. The ring gear is unlatched from the second motor-generator and locked in place as it was in Mode 1, and the main traction motor once again is solely responsible for making the planets orbit. But the electricity to do that now comes from the gas engine, which has been clutched to the second motor-generator, now in generator mode.
Mode 4: High-speed series-parallel hybrid mode up to top speed. This is classic gasoline-powered series-parallel operation. You can't have both electric motors driving the car at high speed like we saw in Mode 2 because the battery is discharged, meaning that the second motor-generator must continue to be a generator driven by the engine. This is where the engine begins to directly drive the ring gear. The engine is already clutched to the second motor-generator, so a straight-through mechanical connection is established when the ring's motor-generator clutch is engaged. Compared to Mode 3, the engine works harder here because it is simultaneously driving the ring gear and the shaft of the generator. Getting the Terms Right GM points out that the different planetary layout used by the Toyota Prius Plug-In makes its engine come on in Mode 2. On the other hand, GM's Voltec system has three clutches, while the Prius HSD system has exactly zero.
GM also reminds us that the Volt's gasoline engine (premium fuel required, by the way) never directly drives the car without the help of an electric motor. That's true, even in Mode 4 where the sun is still being turned by the main traction motor. None of their gasoline engines can move them an inch without an electric motor applying torque to one of their planetary elements.
I will give this one to you, except its not a true transmission with a gas engine driving the wheels.
HS