The characteristics of voltage degradation of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell under a road operating environment

A real-life testing experiment of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and the basic characteristics of its voltage degradation are presented. A general package radio system (GPRS)-based remote monitoring system was used as the data acquisition method, and the non-linear regression method was used to estimate PEMFC's polarization curve within specific iso-interval periods. The voltage degradation rate was calculated using the differential method, and its average level was also analyzed. The experimental results indicated that the voltage degradation rate at a specific current density featured a bathtub-like curve, exhibiting 1) infant degradation, 2) steady degradation, 3) and accelerated degradation.