[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Ive seen those shovels before and typically they are electric powered by a big extension cord that has a tradational front end loader managing it. Its either powered on site by the generator the coal is being dug for or its got a power plant. I thought electric was as efficient as it got, why does it need to be powered by fuel, then converted to a hybrid?!?!?!?!

Electric is very efficient, but producing electricity isn't also that good. Maybe in some cases it's more cost effective (though maybe not more efficient from a global energy consumption perspective) to have fuel powered machines that can be moved from one place to another, rather than building a small power plant at every site. Also, power plants get less efficient as they get smaller.