Petrol–electric transmission

In France, the Crochat petrol–electric transmission system was used for standard gauge locomotives (up to 240 kW of electrical power).

The generator charges a battery pack and drives a traction motor that provides tractive effort for the vehicle to move.

Petrol–electric vehicles typically doesn't require any stepping up or transmission as electric traction motors can operate at a wide rpm range at peak efficiency.

Examples of road vehicles using petrol–electric transmission include the Tilling-Stevens bus (UK)[7] and the Owen Magnetic touring car (USA).

[9] Examples of petrol–electric rail vehicles include the North Eastern Railway 1903 Petrol Electric Autocar, Doodlebug (rail car), GE 57-ton gas–electric boxcab,[10] In the UK, the first petrol–electric locomotives built for the War Department Light Railways by Dick, Kerr & Co. and British Westinghouse.

[15] Ferdinand Porsche was the main developer of these drive trains for military vehicles in Nazi Germany.

Series hybrid architecture
A schematic representation of the power-train of a series hybrid vehicle