Prius Hybrid Drive Explained
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN recommends it as the clearest visual explanation of how the Prius power-split hybrid actually works.
What it is
A Blender-animated explanation of the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive, showing how the engine, two motor-generators, planetary gearset and battery work together as an eCVT.
Recommended by 3 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2019 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec danw1979 · 2019-01 · on “Toyota Finally Has the Power in Electric Cars”
I used to think the Hybrid Synergy Drive in the Prius and other Toyota hybrids was a fancy name for an electric motor bolted onto the gearbox of a regular ICE car. I’ve owned several Prii over many years. For those interested here’s a great video explaining how it really works. It blew my mind... [this video]
Recommends loonster · 2021-08 · on “Japan is holding back as the world rushes toward electric cars”
The eCVT that hybrids use are mechanically nothing like mechanical CVT. The only thing they share in common is they are both continuously variable. This is a great video on eCVT. [this video]
Recommends CRConrad · 2024-12 · on “First Geared CVT [video]”
More YouTube videos about the eCVT... 1) Better -- much simpler, and above all shorter -- video explanation of the Toyota system: [LINK] . 2) Another, a little longer, but very pedagogical and beautifully animated explanation: [this video] . Eight years old, but apparently the "power split device" worked the same even then. Bonus -- short conversation in the comments, arriving at the same conclusion I did above: @TimpBizkit 3 weeks ago I thought the prius had a cvt 1 reply @aspecreviews 3 weeks ago It doesn't. The "CVT" is electrically simulated. Heh, yeah. 3) Titled something about "Launch Gear", but actually on the whole CVT thing (from a channel I semi-regularly watch): [LINK] . 4) A good basi