Trying to understand how the Transmission works

First thing I think I understand it I'm more just trying to verify that I understand it if anything here is wrong please correct me, I'm mid way through getting a degree in mechanical engineering, but for what ever reason with electrical things I have a really hard time trying to grasp their concepts.

I went through the forums and and people kept saying look into the PSD for the transmission and then you'll understand. Which trying to figure out felt like I was hitting my head into a brick wall (it was like dark souls all over again). When I woke up this morning though it finally clicked with me, MG1 (the one that isn't connected directly to the wheels) essentially behaves as a torque converter(but with magnetism rather than fluid) which can also start the ICE which will also charge the car via resistance on the motor. So if all this is correct I could drive the car without MG2, it would be super inefficient at this point but you technically could do it.

Also from the videos I watched on how this transmission works, from what I understand is that the Toyota Highlander uses the same Hybrid transmission as the Prius? is that correct or is it just similar?

I also read that the 2010 model MG1 motor produces 600 VAC(which is 600 volts AC I think) would that be the motor itself that produces that much or is that after going through a voltage booster?

End of questions but if you're interested this is the why I want to know. I just recently purchased a Prius 2 months ago and I now love this thing, I used to hate them because reasons, I honestly have no idea why I disliked them other than they were green and I thought they were wimpy, little did I know. I was looking into the engineering of how the hybrid system works and I must say I really like it, from a economy stand point they're great and from a performance stand point having your max torque from start is also great. I also found out I can get the transmissions for these from junkyards for super cheap, this got me thinking what if I grab a few of these and make a box for them and stuff it under my suburban? If the Prius weighs 3000 lbs and my suburban weighs 5000lbs (probably closer to 6000 with the battery packs) It would take maybe two MG1's and MG2's to move the suburban, maybe I could use 3 of each so it could still do some towing, or if its the same as the highlanders motor I'll just have to increase what the battery can do to power it which I believe the highlander has a higher voltage battery. I also have plenty of space for some massive battery packs and rather than rely on a DC-DC booster(which I understand is a weak link for good power in the Prius) I could wire the batteries up to push 600 volts or whatever is close to the electric motors max voltage and just convert it straight to AC electricity ( I do realize this could be dangerous if I don't shield and store them properly), which could possibly eliminate the need for more than one of each motor.

I'm pretty sure I could control the motors with some basic sensors and if I could find an open source ECM like mega-squirt or a realtime computer that I can program easily. From what I've seen in the coding of GM OBD I computers it looks similar to the G-code in CNC machines so I may be able to modify one of those to work. It definitely won't be as efficient as a Prius or Hybrid highlander(I'm not going to hire a electrical engineer to do anything too complicated), but I am pretty sure it would do better than 10 MPG.

Yes this may seem like a crazy project idea but it would be so cool. No I'm not doing this just for good gas mileage(I know it probably wouldn't be worth it if that was the only reason). I want to do this mostly because I can, I already converted it from automatic to manual, so its not the most insane thing I've done yet. It also would be kind of funny to slap some hybrid badges on it and make peoples heads spin, especially when I explain to them how its powered by a Prius.

 

The site won't let me quote for some reason, I think its because I just signed up(I should of done it two months ago when I started browsing the forum), so I am just going to stick your username in front.

Jimbo, I actually already saw these videos which is why I was able to come to the conclusion that MG1 behaves as a torque converter. They were super helpful though, other than I was kind of distracted while the second one was playing so I missed some of it.

FuelMiser, thats actually what I was looking for, everything I kept coming across was this flash file that kind of explained what was going on, but it seemed more focused on explaining how the ICE, MG1 and MG2 effect each other speed wise. Very few sources explain that MG1 can transfer power, in fact that source is the only source that I've seen that does so far. which confirms what I was thinking when I watched the videos.

ETC(SS), I didn't realized that some places allowed hybrids to park in special places that is kind of interesting though. I'm in Idaho they don't care about hybrids, plus I don't think I could even get away with it, the suburban is a 1988 even if I showed them what I had done I don't think they'd believe me.

Tideland, that is exactly what I was thinking when I was picturing how I could pull this off, Chances are though I'll swap the engine to a 2.5L 1jz-gte it still produces 280lb's of torque at 2400rpm so its close enough to the 5.7L v8 that is already in it and with electric assist from the electric motor it should have enough to get things moving like normal and I should be able to still tow with it. It would also be more efficient and lighter, which is probably why he used a 4cyl Saturn motor. Of course 30MPG is impressive, I was thinking I'd get closer to 20MPG I get 10MPG currently.

Vferdman, Sorry about the grammar I wrote it yesterday while I was semi-awake I should have waited on posting it when I was more alert and had a chance to read through it. (granted, grammar still isn't my strong suit)

And Thank you all, This information has been very helpful. I might be able to actually pull this off.

 

135BHP would be great if I wanted to good gas mileage the main downfalls of it though would be that it wouldn't be able go uphill, tow, or get out of its own way. I still want to be able to use this like a truck, I mostly got this idea because I was listening to something and they said ford was making a F-150 hybrid, which got me thinking why not do that with the suburban, I want to keep it till I die so improving it this way would save money in the long run and if I make it efficient enough my wife won't care that I own it. If i'm gonna do it though that plug in hybrid suburban from the video posted by tideland seems like the best way to go. plus 60 miles of range with no gas chances are I'd rarely need gas, which would ironically make it better than my Prius for fuel efficiency, well in town anyways, can't do much for brick aerodynamics on the highway.

I also found that Firebird, pretty sweet idea but hacking up a Prius uni-body(bad idea for stability) and the mounting the Firebird body on it would be easier but I don't think I could pull that off with the suburban I'd need to dice up two Prius's for that.