Prelims 2025 · Q41
EasyConsider the following types of vehicles:
- I.Full battery electric vehicles
- II.Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
- III.Fuel cell-electric hybrid vehicles
How many of the above are considered as alternative powertrain vehicles?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) All the three
An alternative powertrain vehicle is one driven by something other than a conventional internal combustion engine running on petrol or diesel. Battery-electric cars, hydrogen fuel-cell cars and fuel-cell hybrids that pair a fuel cell with an electric drive all fit, so all three are alternative powertrain vehicles.
- ✓ I A full battery electric vehicle has a battery charged from the grid and always operates in all-electric mode (US DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center); the World Bank lists battery electric vehicles among the alternative technologies countries are adopting.
- ✓ II A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle is powered by hydrogen and produces no harmful tailpipe pollutants, unlike a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle; the World Bank treats it as another alternative to battery-powered vehicles.
- ✓ III A fuel cell-electric hybrid is built around a fuel cell supplying an electric motor, with a battery storing braking energy (US DOE), so it too replaces the conventional engine and counts as an alternative powertrain.
Remember · Alternative powertrains replace the conventional petrol/diesel engine: battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and fuel cell-electric hybrid vehicles all count.
Sources
- World Bank blog: Powering tomorrow's cities: Alternative fuel vehicles can spur growth and jobs (29 April 2025) ↗ “When countries adopt technologies like battery electric vehicles or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, they incur multiple economic and health benefits … Battery-powered vehicles are just one option for governments seeking cleaner transportation solutions. Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), powered by hydrogen, offer another promising alternative with unique advantages.”
- US Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center: Electric Vehicles (all-electric vehicles) ↗ “All-electric vehicles, also called battery electric vehicles, have a battery that is charged by plugging the vehicle in to charging equipment.”
- US Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles ↗ “Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are powered by hydrogen . They are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no harmful tailpipe pollutants … regenerative braking systems that capture the energy lost during braking and store it in a battery.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·