This line of thinking also dramatically underestimates the energy requirement to excavate dirt and rock...

Then, figure it's on another planet with dust storms that have already killed solar-powered rovers, etc.

I never mentioned hydrocarbon energy. You keep bringing it up for some reason.

> Solar, electric, batteries, etc do not even remotely come close.

I don't need them to come close. I need them to do the job, and they do it

> This line of thinking also dramatically underestimates the energy requirement to excavate dirt and rock...

here are some electric, battery powered excavators:

- https://www.volvoce.com/europe/en/products/electric-machines...

- https://www.wackerneuson.cz/en/zero-emission/electric-excava...

- https://www.komatsu.jp/en/newsroom/2023/20230721

- https://www.jcb.com/en-us/products/compact-excavators/19c-1e

- https://www.bobcat.com/na/en/equipment/excavators/compact-ex...

- https://www.volvoce.com/europe/en/products/electric-machines...

- https://www.hitachicm.com/eu/en/onsite/article/Introduction_...

- https://www.casece.com/en/europe/products/excavators/d-serie...

- https://www.kubota.com/news/2023/20231218.html

There are excavators both small and big so yes you can definetely excavate using electricity alone.

> dust storms that have already killed solar-powered rovers

Looking at list here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_rover I guess you talk about Zhurong and Opportunity? Both of these seems like success story given that they survived way longer than they were expected to..

https://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/dozers/medi...

Not to mention this bulldozer still burns hydrocarbons. It uses electric drive for it's tracks - and the electricity is generated by hydrocarbons!