Abstract: A registration arrangement for a fuel cell stack assembly incorporates registration posts and registration apertures or recesses. Fuel cell assemblies of the stack may include first and second flow field plates and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) having an active area. Registration apertures are defined in each of the MEA and the first and second flow field plates. The respective registration apertures are situated within non-active areas of the MEA when the first and second flow field plates and the MEA are in axial alignment. Registration posts are configured for reception within the registration apertures. Each of the registration posts has an outer surface differing in shape from a shape of the inner surface of the registration apertures. The inner surface of the registration apertures contact the outer surface of the registration posts at a plurality of discrete press-fit locations.

Abstract: Fuel cell systems incorporate end plate assemblies used to compress the fuel cell stack and/or to collect current from the fuel cell stack. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having fuel cells stacked in a predetermined stacking direction. Multi-function or multi-region compression end plate assemblies are disposed at the ends of a fuel cell stack. A multi-region compression end plate assembly involves compression mechanisms configured to preferentially compress separate areas of the fuel cell stack. A multi-function end plate assembly employs a current collector passing through an end plate to collect current from the fuel cell stack. The current collector may be used to preferentially compress a region of the fuel cell stack.