An electric drive unit is provided having an electric motor-generator coupled with a torque converter. Vehicles and machines employing the same, as well as methods of using the same, are also disclosed. The motor-generator may be configured to selectively drive a rotatable shaft with a motor output torque and generate electrical power from rotation of the rotatable shaft. The electric drive unit may further include a torque converter having an input and an output separated by a fluid coupling. The fluid coupling may be configured to selectively multiply torque received at the input such that a drive unit output torque at the output is selectively increased in at least a predetermined rotational speed range of the electric motor-generator.