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Q41 (IAS/2025) Science & Technology › New Materials, Energy & Environment-linked Tech › Electric mobility technologies Answer Verified

Consider the following types of vehicles: 1. Full battery electric vehicles 2. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles 3. Fuel cell-electric hybrid vehicles How many of the above are considered as alternative powertrain vehicles?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is option C - all three types are considered alternative powertrain vehicles.

Electric vehicles and fuel-cells are classified as non-conventional sources of energy[3], which makes them alternative powertrains to conventional internal combustion engines.

1. **Full battery electric vehicles** are clearly alternative powertrains as they run entirely on battery power instead of fossil fuels.

2. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have very high energy conversion efficiency and near-zero pollution, with CO₂ and water vapor being the only emissions[4], making them a clear alternative to conventional vehicles.

3. **Fuel cell-electric hybrid vehicles** combine fuel cell technology with electric systems, representing another form of alternative powertrain technology.

The National Mission for Electric Mobility (NCEM) was established to promote electric mobility and manufacturing of electric vehicles in India[5], reflecting the government's recognition of these technologies as alternatives to conventional fossil fuel-based vehicles. All three vehicle types mentioned represent departures from traditional internal combustion engine technology and are therefore considered alternative powertrain vehicles.

Sources
  1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY > p. 27
  2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY > p. 27
  3. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY > p. 27
  4. [4] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > Fuel cells for automobile transport > p. 296
  5. [5] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 26: Institutions and Measures > 26.8 NATIONAT MISSION FOR ELECTRIC MOBILITY > p. 378
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Q. Consider the following types of vehicles: 1. Full battery electric vehicles 2. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles 3. Fuel cell-electric hybrid …
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic 'definition-based' question derived directly from standard Environment and Geography texts. The term 'alternative powertrain' simply refers to anything non-ICE (Internal Combustion Engine). If you read the chapters on Renewable Energy or Pollution Control in Shankar or Majid Husain, this is a free hit. No current affairs wizardry was needed, just basic conceptual clarity.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Are full battery electric vehicles (battery electric vehicles, BEVs) considered alternative powertrain vehicles?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 26: Institutions and Measures > 26.8 NATIONAT MISSION FOR ELECTRIC MOBILITY > p. 378
Presence: 5/5
“26.8 National Mission for Electric Mobility • R A National Mission for Electric Mobility (NCEM) to promote electric mobility and manufacturing of electric vehicles in India. • R The setting up of NCEM has been influenced by the following three factors: • r Fast dwindling petroleum resources • rz. Impact of vehicles on the environment and climate change • o 3, Worldwide shift of the automobile industry towards more efficient drive technologies and alternative fuels including electric vehicles.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly groups electric vehicles under 'alternative fuels' and 'more efficient drive technologies'.
  • Links a national mission for electric mobility to a global shift toward alternative drive technologies.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 23: India and Climate Change > 23.18. FAME.INDIA PROGRAMME > p. 317
Presence: 4/5
“Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and electric Vehicies (EAME India) scheme rolled out in April, eor5 by Union Minister for Heavy industries and Public Enterprises The scheme will help promote use of electric and hybrid vehicles, and initially, a subsidy of 30% will be provided to the buyers. Phased replacement of fossil fuel-based vehicles with those based on latest technologies will lead to a net saving of Rs 14,000 crore. The scheme is proposed to be implemented over six years, til zozo, which looks at sales of electric and hybrid vehicles up to 6o-7o lakh units per year.”
Why this source?
  • FAME India scheme promotes adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles as replacements for fossil-fuel vehicles.
  • Frames electric/hybrid vehicles as part of a policy-driven phase‑out of conventional internal combustion vehicles.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 8: Energy Resources > NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY > p. 27
Presence: 4/5
“The non-conventional energy is also called as renewable energy. The non-conventional sources of energy include solar energy, wind energy, bio-mass energy, fuel-cells, electric vehicles, tidal energy, hydrogen energy, and geo-thermal energy.”
Why this source?
  • Classifies electric vehicles within non-conventional (renewable) energy category.
  • Associates EVs with other alternative/renewable energy sources like fuel-cells and hydrogen.
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