Well here's my question. How much better is an eCVT compared to an actual torque converter or a dual-clutch transmission. For example the Porsche hybrids are either PDK or have the ZF8. Hyundai has a dual-clutch for the Ioniq as well. I always believed that an actual transmission with gear ratios have enhanced the positives of a hybrid more than a CVT with the exception of trying to save every last drop of fuel if you're hypermiling.
The hybrid systems that simply sandwich an electric motor-generator between the engine and traditional automatic transmission are what I call "either-or" hybrids: The electric motor can either drive the vehicle by drawing power from the battery OR it can be used as a generator to recharge the battery, but it cannot do both. Only when the motor is not drawing power from the battery (e.g. when the battery is discharged) can it be used as a generator. If the battery is discharged, the combustion engine is pulling around the dead weight of the battery.
The PSD/eCVT transmissions contain a second electric motor-generator. With a second motor-generator, the vehicle can operate in the very efficient series-hybrid mode: The electric motor MG2 drives the vehicle by drawing power from the battery AND, concurrently, the combustion engine is running at a constant, low speed (very fuel efficient), turning the electric generator MG1 to keep the battery topped up. This uncouples power spikes (caused by accelerations, which consume a lot of fuel in a combustion engine) from the combustion engine; the charged battery responds to spikes.
