If proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are ever to succeed in sustainable energy landscape as a potential zerp emission technology, it is inevitable to reduce electricity production cost associated mainly with its MEAs, cell hardware and gas storage units. We demonstrate a diverse strategy for achieving this target with a concomitant amplification of its specific energy and power, by rolling a thin graphene oxide (GO) based MEA alone into a tubular and air breathing architecture with internal fuel storage. The unique properties of GO being a barrier for molecular fuels and proton conducting to construct a GO based cylindrical MEA. This makes the tubular PEMFC similar to 75 times lighter, featuring similar to 37 and similar to 92 times respectively, the power and energy per overall weight, making it a potential candidate for portable applications. The intrinsic electrochemical kinetics at the three-phase boundary are somewhat affected by the bending of the MEA, albeit at overall reduction in power production cost. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.