The El 17 was built by the manufacturer Thyssen-Henschel of Germany.
The locomotives have three-phase asynchronous motors with a continuous output power of 3,000 kilowatts (4,000 hp), allowing a maximum speed of 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph).
The units receive 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC power from a pantograph and are the first class of locomotive for NSB that has regenerative brakes.
The electrical equipment was designed by the manufacturer BBC (German plant Mannheim) but built by the Norwegian manufacturer Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri (NEBB).
Each locomotive is equipped with four NEBB BQg 3855 motors, giving a Bo'Bo' wheel arrangement and a maximum tractive effort of 240 kilonewtons (54,000 lbf) on dry rails.

The El 17 is an electric locomotive designed for intercity trains, but is also capable of hauling light freight trains.
The body is welded as a self-containing construction.
The roof (light alloy) sections can be removed, and the locomotives were the first Norwegian locomotives to have a center aisle in the machine room.
The locomotives are 16.30 metres (53 ft 6 in) long, have a wheel diameter of 1,100 millimetres (3 ft 7 in) and weigh 64.0 tonnes (63.0 long tons; 70.5 short tons).
The locomotives can run in multiple; by using a UIC 568 signalling cable, the locomotives do not need to be adjacent to each other in the train.
the El 17 has the unique pointed front that was first used on the El 16, and is also found on the Di 4 and Di 6 classes.
The El 17 was built by the manufacturer Thyssen-Henschel of Germany. The locomotives have three-phase asynchronous motors with a continuous output power of 3,000 kilowatts (4,000 hp), allowing a maximum speed of 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph). The units receive 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC power from a pantograph and are the first class of locomotive for NSB that has regenerative brakes. The electrical equipment was designed by the manufacturer BBC (German plant Mannheim) but built by the Norwegian manufacturer Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri (NEBB). Each locomotive is equipped with four NEBB BQg 3855 motors, giving a Bo'Bo' wheel arrangement and a maximum tractive effort of 240 kilonewtons (54,000 lbf) on dry rails.
The El 17 is an electric locomotive designed for intercity trains, but is also capable of hauling light freight trains. The body is welded as a self-containing construction. The roof (light alloy) sections can be removed, and the locomotives were the first Norwegian locomotives to have a center aisle in the machine room. The locomotives are 16.30 metres (53 ft 6 in) long, have a wheel diameter of 1,100 millimetres (3 ft 7 in) and weigh 64.0 tonnes (63.0 long tons; 70.5 short tons). The locomotives can run in multiple; by using a UIC 568 signalling cable, the locomotives do not need to be adjacent to each other in the train. the El 17 has the unique pointed front that was first used on the El 16, and is also found on the Di 4 and Di 6 classes.
NSB El 17