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📌 The Question:

Consider 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?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None

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✅ Correct Answer: (c) All the three

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🧠 Classroom Explanation:

First, recall the core concept:

🔧 Powertrain refers to the system that generates power and transmits it to the wheels, enabling vehicle motion.
In conventional vehicles, this is based on internal combustion engines (ICE) running on petrol or diesel.

Any vehicle not relying on ICE as the primary propulsion system is treated as having an alternative powertrain.

Now examine each option:

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🔹 I. Full Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) — Correct ✔️
• Powered entirely by electric motors
• Energy stored in rechargeable batteries
• No internal combustion engine involved

👉 Hence, BEVs clearly use an alternative powertrain.

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🔹 II. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCEVs) — Correct ✔️
• Use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity
• Electricity drives an electric motor
• Only tailpipe emission is water vapour

👉 This is also a non-conventional propulsion system.

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🔹 III. Fuel Cell–Electric Hybrid Vehicles — Correct ✔️
• Combine a fuel cell with a battery or electric storage system
• Both systems together power an electric drivetrain

👉 Hybridisation here still avoids a conventional ICE-dominant setup.

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📌 Therefore:
All three vehicle categories rely on non-ICE-based propulsion systems and qualify as alternative powertrain vehicles.

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🔍 Curiosity Raiser:
🚗 Did you know? In fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen is not “burnt” like petrol — it is electrochemically converted into electricity, making the process cleaner and quieter.

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📚 Enrich Notes (Exam Plus):

• BEVs → Battery + Motor
• FCEVs → Hydrogen + Fuel Cell + Motor
• Fuel cell–electric hybrids → Fuel Cell + Battery + Motor
• All three align with decarbonisation of transport
• Frequently linked with EV policy, green hydrogen, and net-zero targets

📌 UPSC often clubs energy transition + mobility + climate goals.

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🪶 IAS Monk Whisper:
When engines give way to electrons, mobility becomes a climate solution.