diesel-electric

American  

[dee-zuhl-i-lek-trik, -suhl-] / ˈdi zəl ɪˈlɛk trɪk, -səl- /

Or Diesel-electric

adjective

1. having an electric motor powered directly by an electric generator or by batteries charged by the generator, with the generator being driven by a diesel engine.

   a diesel-electric locomotive.

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diesel-electric British  

noun

1. a locomotive fitted with a diesel engine driving an electric generator that feeds electric traction motors

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adjective

1. of or relating to such a locomotive or system

Etymology

Origin of diesel-electric

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

These diesel-electric subs could cruise underwater on battery power for up to forty-eight hours, but to recharge they needed to approach the surface, take in oxygen, and run their diesel engines.

From Literature

Nuclear-powered subs have greater range and endurance than Australia’s current fleet of diesel-electric subs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Current diesel-electric trains are designed to draw their power from overhead lines on electrified sections of track.

From BBC

Where diesel-electric submarines spend half of their time at sea going to from a patrol area, a nuclear-powered submarine would spend 15-20% of its time in transit, he said.

From Reuters

The submarine shown in state media reports on Friday appears to be a reworked diesel-electric powered Romeo-class Russian submarine — a model dating back to the 1950s.

From Washington Times