What are the disadvantages of the diesel electric locomotive?

The main disadvantages of dual-mode locomotives are that they are more expensive to build and mechanically more complex, resulting in higher maintenance costs. They also lose some energy efficiency by carrying around the weight of one type of unused power plant (electric or diesel), while using the other.



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Electric locomotives usually cost 20% less than diesel locomotives, their maintenance costs are 25-35% lower, and cost up to 50% less to run. The chief disadvantage of electrification is the high cost for infrastructure: overhead lines or third rail, substations, and control systems.

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Power plant capacity is far greater than any individual locomotive uses, so electric locomotives can have a higher power output than diesel locomotives and they can produce even higher short-term surge power for fast acceleration.

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Power plant capacity is far greater than any individual locomotive uses, so electric locomotives can have a higher power output than diesel locomotives and they can produce even higher short-term surge power for fast acceleration.

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The diesel-electric locomotive has a thermal efficiency (percent of useful work derived from a unit of fuel) of 20–25%. Since a gallon of fuel oil contains approximately 130,000 Btu of energy, only 20–25% of this would be available to produce work, that is, pull the train.

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It all comes down to efficiency; electric motors are far more efficient than internal combustion engines when it comes to creating mechanical energy, and this is particularly relevant with trains.

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Cons of diesel cars
  • Diesel cars tend to be more expensive to buy than similar petrol models.
  • Diesel fuel usually costs more.
  • Servicing can be more expensive, although you don't need to do it as often.
  • Insurance can be 10-15% higher. [ ...
  • Diesel cars produce a lot more NO2.


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It is the policy of the largest US railroad to shut down engines for fuel conservation. However, besides temperature there are other reasons to leave an engine running. Among these are to preserve a supply of air to the trains air brake system or to ensure the locomotives batteries remain charged.

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The life expectancy of diesel-electric and electric locomotives is expected to be similar—about 25 years. Both types of motive power are subject to technological obsolescence.

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Some locomotives collect electricity from overhead cables, while others take power from a third “live” rail on the track. It is very expensive to build the lines or rails that carry the electric current, but electric locomotives are cleaner, quieter, faster, and more reliable than steam or diesel engines.

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Electric trains have always had no direct carbon emissions because they are run entirely by internal electric motors. However, the means of generating the electricity used to power these motors was predominately by burning fossil fuels or coal, both of which produce a large amount of carbon emissions.

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Usually 30 to 50 years but a diesel engine might be replaced by a more modern and efficient model after half that time. Likewise a locomotive's electronics can be upgraded, or adjustments to new signalling systems made.

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Electric locomotives are typically 20% less expensive than diesel locomotives. Maintenance costs can be 25 to 35 percent lower and operating costs can be up to 50%.

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