電力來源

電力車輛可以透過不同類型的來源接收電力。一些電力車輛車透過稱為「集電弓」的裝置從架空電線汲取電流，而一些則使用車載電池供電。另外還有搭載著內燃引擎（即所謂的「原動機」）的柴油電力車輛，可在機車上自行產生電力。雖然它們的外觀與發出的聲音截然不同，但電力和柴電車輛都是由使用電力的牽引馬達驅動。

• Wire-Electric - Drawing electricity from overhead wires , with a pantograph connection.
• Battery-Electric - Drawing electricity from onboard rechargeable batteries.
• Diesel-Electric - Generating electricity onboard, with an internal combustion engine .

While their visual and auditory presence may be vastly different from one another, all these types of vehicles use similar drivetrains for propulsion, that is electric-powered traction motors .