An electric drive for a vehicle or other machine having a rotatable drive mechanism, in which the torque output of an electric motor is coupled to drive a main generator through a planetary gear set, the electrical output of the main generator is supplied to the motor to drive the motor, and a reaction torque produced in the planetary gear set from the driving of the generator is coupled to drive the vehicle wheels or other motion means. The reaction torque produced in the planetary gear set in response to the generator torque is greater than the electric motor torque input. Start-up and make-up power for the electric motor are provided by an onboard battery recharged by an auxiliary onboard generator, or by the auxiliary onboard generator.