Apparatus for controlling the speed of an engine within a hybrid electric vehicle

A hybrid electric vehicle drive system or transaxle 10 including an internal combustion engine 12, a generator/motor 14 which is coupled to engine 12 by use of a planetary gear set 20, and an electric motor 16. Drive system 10 includes a brake or clutch assembly 34 which is operatively and selectively coupled to a generator/motor 14 and is effective to supplement the generator-produced reaction torque, thereby co-operating with the generator/motor 14 to control the speed of engine 12.