Guided by the “dual carbon” strategic goals, China's energy structure transformation has entered a critical phase. Hydrogen, as a clean, low-carbon, and abundant secondary energy source, has become an integral part of the national energy system. Among them, the transportation sector is a key area for achieving carbon emissions reductions. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with advantages such as zero emissions, high efficiency, and rapid refueling, are widely recognized as a technically viable and scalable solution for the electrification of transportation. This paper reviews hydrogen fuel cells, primarily focusing on the working principles and core components (membrane electrode assemblies, catalysts, proton exchange membranes, etc.) of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), as well as their performance. It also analyzes the scientific and technological challenges confronted with fuel cells during commercialization. The paper examines and summarizes the effects of Pt-based catalyst degradation and carbon support corrosion on catalyst activity loss, and discusses trends toward enhancing catalyst activity and reducing costs. It concludes the factors affecting the durability of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) and proposes improvement measures such as chemical modification and physical reinforcement. It also explores the impact of mechanical and chemical degradation of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) under operating conditions on durability and lifespan, and summarizes the optimization strategies for the microstructure of the GDL and water/thermal management. Regarding the policy and market environment, this paper analyzes hydrogen energy policy trends in China and some advanced nations, it also elaborates on the evolutionary paths of China's two business models: the “vehicle-station-source” closed-loop and full-chain integration, and it expounds the commercialization progress of major global economies. Finally, recommendations are proposed for China's hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industry, emphasizing that overcoming the “bottleneck” of domestic production for critical materials, improving the standards system, and establishing a full-chain innovation ecosystem encompassing “technology research and development-pilot testing-commercial application” are indispensability tasks for driving the high-quality development of the automotive PEMFC industry.
