A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack, comprising: an electrochemical package comprising a cathode, an anode, and a polymer membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode; a first bipolar plate; a second bipolar plate; and electrically conductive porous spacers that provide a flow field, said spacers being selected from perforated metal sheet, expanded metal mesh, metal wire mesh, metal foam or graphite foam; wherein the electrochemical package is disposed between the first and the second bipolar plate, and a porous spacer is interposed between the first bipolar plate and the electrochemical package; and wherein the second bipolar plate comprises a center portion and a peripheral portion, the second bipolar plate further comprising a recess formed by the center portion receding from the plane where the peripheral portion of the second bipolar plate resides; a first compartment being interposed between the second bipolar plate and the electrochemical package, a porous spacer residing in said first compartment, the second bipolar plate further comprising a plurality of first openings for introducing a fluid into the first compartment and a plurality of second openings for withdrawing the fluid from the first compartment; a first gasket comprising a peripheral portion and a center cavity, the peripheral portion comprising openings for fuel gas inlet, fuel gas outlet, oxidant gas inlet, oxidant gas outlet, cooling fluid inlet, cooling fluid outlet, wherein the center cavity is adapted to receive the recess in the second bipolar plate, the first gasket further comprising a first channel connecting the fuel gas inlet and a plurality of first slots at an edge of said gasket bordering the center cavity in said gasket, one of the first slots being in alignment with one of the first openings in the second bipolar plate; and a second channel connecting the fuel gas outlet and a plurality of second slots at the edge of said gasket bordering the center cavity in said gasket, one of the second slots is in alignment with one of the second openings in the second bipolar plate, wherein protrusions provided on the second bipolar plate are in contact with the first bipolar plate, wherein a second compartment receiving a cooling fluid is formed by the first gasket, the first bipolar plate, and the second bipolar plate. an electrochemical package comprising a cathode, an anode, and a polymer membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode; a first bipolar plate; a second bipolar plate; and electrically conductive porous spacers that provide a flow field, said spacers being selected from perforated metal sheet, expanded metal mesh, metal wire mesh, metal foam or graphite foam; wherein the electrochemical package is disposed between the first and the second bipolar plate, and a porous spacer is interposed between the first bipolar plate and the electrochemical package; and wherein the second bipolar plate comprises a center portion and a peripheral portion, the second bipolar plate further comprising a recess formed by the center portion receding from the plane where the peripheral portion of the second bipolar plate resides; a first compartment being interposed between the second bipolar plate and the electrochemical package, a porous spacer residing in said first compartment, the second bipolar plate further comprising a plurality of first openings for introducing a fluid into the first compartment and a plurality of second openings for withdrawing the fluid from the first compartment; a first gasket comprising a peripheral portion and a center cavity, the peripheral portion comprising openings for fuel gas inlet, fuel gas outlet, oxidant gas inlet, oxidant gas outlet, cooling fluid inlet, cooling fluid outlet, wherein the center cavity is adapted to receive the recess in the second bipolar plate, the first gasket further comprising a first channel connecting the fuel gas inlet and a plurality of first slots at an edge of said gasket bordering the center cavity in said gasket, one of the first slots being in alignment with one of the first openings in the second bipolar plate; and a second channel connecting the fuel gas outlet and a plurality of second slots at the edge of said gasket bordering the center cavity in said gasket, one of the second slots is in alignment with one of the second openings in the second bipolar plate, wherein protrusions provided on the second bipolar plate are in contact with the first bipolar plate, wherein a second compartment receiving a cooling fluid is formed by the first gasket, the first bipolar plate, and the second bipolar plate. wherein the center cavity is adapted to receive the recess in the second bipolar plate, the first gasket further comprising a first channel connecting the fuel gas inlet and a plurality of first slots at an edge of said gasket bordering the center cavity in said gasket, one of the first slots being in alignment with one of the first openings in the second bipolar plate; and a second channel connecting the fuel gas outlet and a plurality of second slots at the edge of said gasket bordering the center cavity in said gasket, one of the second slots is in alignment with one of the second openings in the second bipolar plate, wherein protrusions provided on the second bipolar plate are in contact with the first bipolar plate, wherein a second compartment receiving a cooling fluid is formed by the first gasket, the first bipolar plate, and the second bipolar plate.