SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING COLD STARTUP OF A FUEL CELL

Systems and methods described herein relate to controlling cold startup of a fuel cell. In one embodiment, a system for controlling cold startup of a fuel cell detects that a fuel cell and a high-voltage battery are at a temperature below a predetermined threshold temperature below which discharging power from the high-voltage battery is permitted and charging the high-voltage battery is not permitted. The system activates a battery heater and powers the battery heater using the high-voltage battery. The system starts up the fuel cell by drawing additional power from the high-voltage battery. The system consumes, in the battery heater, power generated by the fuel cell during startup until the fuel cell is fully started up to avoid charging the high-voltage battery while charging the high-voltage battery is not permitted.