By utilizing the state feedback exact linearization approach, a nonlinear robust control strategy is designed based on a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) dynamic nonlinear model of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The state feedback exact linearization approach can achieve the global exact linearization via the nonlinear coordinate transformation and the dynamic extension algorithm such that H-infinity robust control strategy can be directly utilized to guarantee the robustness of the system. The proposed dynamic nonlinear model is tested by comparing the simulation results with the experimental data in Fuel Cell Application Centre in Temasek Polytechnic. The comprehensive results of simulation manifest that the dynamic nonlinear model with nonlinear robust control law has better transient and robust stability when the vehicle running process is simulated. The proposed nonlinear robust controller will be very useful to protect the membrane damage by keeping the pressure deviations as small as possible during large disturbances and prolong the stack life of PEMFC. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.