A test cell for automotive PEM fuel cell engine is introduced and designed. Similarities and differences of facilities between PEM fuel cell engine and inner-combustion engine are illustrated. It turns out that, the air treatment, exhaust gas, cooling and electrical facilities are quite similar, the fuel treatment, power load type, ventilation and air-conditioning are quite different, while the vibration isolation and noise elimination facilities are completely simplified. Furthermore, a thermodynamic model is proposed to analysis the heat flow in fuel cell engine test cell. The Monte Carlo Simulation method is applied to get the proportion of outgoing thermal flows. A thermal flow rule of 4.5/4.5/0.6/0.4 is proposed as rule of thumb for cell designer. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.