Meanings
- not comparableHaving its traction motors powered by on-board rechargeable batteries. (As opposed to electrification-based electric.)
One of the more unusual forms of electric traction used by the Bundesbahn is the battery-electric railcar.
1960 November, P. Ransome-Wallis, “Modern motive power of the German Federal Railway: Part Three”, in Trains Illustrated, page 6761 more example
But he added: "In many places it is likely that battery-electric trains and partial electrification will be more cost-effective than full electrification," describing the costs of full electrification as "phenomenal" while battery costs fall.
2025 November 26, David Stubbings, “Rolling stock strategy 'will give clarity'”, in RAIL, number 1049, page 7
Cite this entry
battery-electric. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/battery-electric
“battery-electric.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/battery-electric. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “battery-electric,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/battery-electric.
Source: battery-electric on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.