Patent ID: 7976994

Claim:
A method of controlling an electric current production installation for powering electrical units of a vehicle, the method comprising: feeding at least two fuel cells of the production installation with fuel and with oxidant to produce an electric current, the at least two fuel cells being electrically linked in series between positive and negative electricity distribution terminals; detecting by a monitor device whether one of the at least two fuel cells is defective; stopping supply of the fuel and the oxidant to a fuel cell detected as defective; disconnecting the electric current production installation from the electrical units of the vehicle so that circulation of the electric current, which is circulated within electric current production installation in an upstream to downstream direction, is totally stopped; isolating the defective fuel cell by ordering an upstream connecting switch and a downstream connecting switch respectively located on an upstream connection line directly upstream of the defective cell and a downstream connection line directly downstream of the defective cell to switch to an open position, the open position being a position which prevents electrical current from flowing; electrically bypassing the defective cell via a bypass line having an upstream end connected to the upstream connection line upstream of the upstream connecting switch, and a downstream end connected to the downstream connection line downstream of the downstream connecting switch, the bypassing ordering a bypass switch located on a bypass line of the defective cell to switch to a closed position to short circuit the defective cell; and reconnecting the electric current production installation to the electrical units of the vehicle.