Gear selection arrangement

A gear selection arrangement in which in a hybrid vehicle with an electric motor that motor is used as an independent drive means in order to provide a balancing torque upon an input shaft to a speed change transmission 13 in order to compensate for gearbox torque loss as a result of friction and lubrication etc. By such means, when the transmission 13 is in a neutral state the electric motor 1 can ensure that the input shaft 6 to the transmission 13 is always at a rotational speed below that of the main shaft from the transmission 13 such that irrespective of the actual gear ratio change effected by the transmission 13 the synchronisation process is that substantially of a downshift gear ratio. In such circumstances, the input shaft 6 must always accelerate to the main shaft desired rotational speed rather than vice versa.