With the beginning of more stringent regulations related to fuel economy, global warming, and emissions as well as conventional energy resource limitations; electric, hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles have been attracting increasing attention from vehicle constructors, consumers and governments. Especially, Proton exchange membrane fuel cell vehicles (PEMFCVs) based automobile industry has gained attention in the last few years due to rising public concern about urban air pollution and consequent environmental problems. However, design of power trains is difficult in fuel cell electric vehicle and maintaining on board hydrogen tanks as challenge in the system. Alternative power trains for automotive applications aim at improving an emissions and fuel economy. This paper provides an overview of a background of fuel cell vehicles history, different types of fuel cells based on the types of electrolyte used in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), different types of powertrains have been used in the automobile industry especially in hybrid sector, achievements of fuel cell based automobiles in Indian terrain, various research challenges and comparing among the Internal Combustion Engines (ICE), Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs), FCHEV. Moreover, fuel cell