Diesel-electric vehicle drive apparatus with torque converter transmission unit

The device has a revolution rate/torque transfer and conversion device arranged between an electric drive motor and the driven wheels or axle drive in the form of a converter gearbox unit with power branching containing at least one hydrodynamic revolution rate/torque converter in a first arm of a power branch. The device has an internal combustion engine (2), an electrical machine (3) that can be operated as a generator in traction mode and an electric drive motor (4) for at least indirect coupling to an axle drive (7) and/or the driven wheels (5,6). A revolution rate/torque transfer and conversion device is arranged between the drive motor and driven wheels or axle drive in the form of a converter gearbox unit (15) with power branching containing at least one hydrodynamic revolution rate/torque converter (16) in a first arm of the power branch (19). Independent claims are also included for the following: a method of increasing the torque transferred to the axles of a non-railway vehicle.