Mathematical modeling of fuel cells could be a powerful tool for fuel cell stack design optimization and for component optimization for a specific vehicle application. In this paper, a previously published phenomenological model with a valid mechanistic background is further elaborated and embedded in a vehicle simulation software (ADVISOR). This coupling allows investigation of fuel cell operation in driving cycles, taking into account the effect of temperature variation during the driving cycle on the fuel cell operation. Moreover, this methodology enables the investigation of the effects of changing some design parameters of the fuel cell stack, such as maximum stack power, catalyst activity and water concentration in the channels, on the overall performance and fuel consumption of a given vehicle. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.