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For the philosophical concept of a prime mover (that is, a self-created being that is the cause of all things), see cosmological argument and first cause.

The term prime mover is used to describe the main mechanical power source of any number of devices. For instance, the engine in a semi-trailer is sometimes referred to as a prime mover, although the term is much more common in industrial applications such as oil wells and ships. The term may also be used to describe an entire vehicle in the case of semi-trailer tractors, although this usage is more typically used in military settings. For instance the US Army refers to their Humvees used for artillery towing as prime movers.

In diesel-electric locomotives, prime mover refers to the diesel engine that drives the generator or alternator. In this case the traction motors are considered part of the transmission rather than prime movers themselves.

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