What are the limitations of battery electric locomotives?

Battery electric locomotives are increasingly used in mines due to their advantages trolley electric locomotives. However, they do have certain limitations, primarily related to the battery.

Firstly, batteries have limited capacity, unlike trolley electric locomotives that have unlimited endurance. When the battery’s remaining power reaches a certain level, it must be recharged. Continuing to operate without recharging can result in insufficient power and even complete shutdown.

Secondly, batteries have a finite service life. Intense work or improper operation and maintenance can shorten their lifespan. This means that battery electric locomotive require higher daily maintenance and the maintenance of batteries is more complex than that of pantographs.

Additionally, if the battery electric locomotive operates underground, a dedicated underground charging room is necessary, which has specific requirements.

These are some limitations of battery electric locomotive compared to trolley electric locomotives.