An electrically variable transmission includes an input member (22), first and second motor-generators (46, 50) and a gear reduction arrangement (42) including at least a first gear (78) coupled to at least one second gear (86). A first planetary gear set (38) includes a first sun gear (60), a first ring gear (64) and a first carrier (68) rotatably supporting a plurality of pinion gears (72) in meshing engagement with the first sun gear (60) and the first ring gear (64) The first carrier (68) is nonrotatably coupled to the input member. (22) and the first ring gear (64) is coupled to the at least one second gear (86). The first sun gear (60) is nonrotatably coupled to the first motor-generator (46) and the first gear (78) is nonrotatably coupled to the second motor-generator (50). A torque transmitting device (34) is configured to selectively fix rotation of the input member (22) in at least one of a first rotational direction and a second opposite rotational direction.