Patent ID: 8318364

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack for generating power, the fuel cell stack including at least one cell that comprises a cathode to which an oxidant is supplied, an anode to which a fuel is supplied, and a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode and the anode; dryness degree determination means for determining a degree of dryness of the fuel cell stack when the fuel cell stack starts power generation; and means for controlling the fuel cell system based on the degree of dryness of the fuel cell stack determined by the dryness degree determination means, for determining whether or not a predetermined drying operation for drying the fuel cell stack should be performed before the start of the power generation, and for, upon determining the predetermined drying operation should be performed before the start of the power generation, causing the fuel cell system to perform the predetermined drying operation before the start of the power generation.