The main differences between EP08 and previous EU07 locomotives are as follows. Transmission was changed from 79:18 into 77:24 what resulted in possible top speed of . However, the machined performed poorely driving with such speed, so the top speed was set to . First five units were equipped with plain bearings what proved insufficient for higher speeds and as a result all these locomotives were rebuilt as EU07 series (numbers 241 to 244). In later units roller bearing's were used.