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Indeed. Those giant dump trucks often employed in open-pit mines operate the same way. Like this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebherr_T_282B

Note the transmission type is listed as "AC electric"

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One of the major reasons for these trucks and the locomotives having electric motors, is that maximum torque is available from 0 rpm in an electric motor. A diesel or petrol engine will max torque further up it's power band. This means these large machines are much easier to get moving.

Likewise for tugboats. Reversing the direction of a propeller is quicker and causes much less wear than with a transmission.

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