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A fuel cell assembly includes a manifold having a plurality of fuel cell connecting zones. At least some of the zones have differing characteristics such as area and arrangement of electrical connections and inlet and outlet ports corresponding to differing electrical power capacities. The assembly

A fuel cell assembly includes a manifold having a plurality of fuel cell connecting zones. At least some of the zones have differing characteristics such as area and arrangement of electrical connections and inlet and outlet ports corresponding to differing electrical power capacities. The assembly also includes one or more fuel cell stacks. At least some of the stacks have differing electrical power capacities, differing characteristics corresponding to the differing characteristics of the manifold zone, and corresponding differing arrangements of electrical connections and inlet and outlet ports. These differing characteristics are designed so that a fuel cell stack of a particular capacity can be connected only to a manifold zone corresponding to such capacity.

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We claim: 1. A fuel cell assembly comprising: a manifold having a first fuel cell connecting zone having a first characteristic and at least a second fuel cell connecting zone having a second characteristic, the first characteristic being different from the second characteristic, each zone having c

We claim: 1. A fuel cell assembly comprising: a manifold having a first fuel cell connecting zone having a first characteristic and at least a second fuel cell connecting zone having a second characteristic, the first characteristic being different from the second characteristic, each zone having coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports, the manifold having a plurality of passages therein communicating with said ports; a first group of fuel cells coupled together to form a first fuel cell stack having a first electrical power capacity, the first stack being adapted to be operatively coupled to said first zone of the manifold and to the coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports associated with said first zone; and at least a second group of fuel cells coupled together to form a second fuel cell stack having a second electrical power capacity which differs from the first electrical power capacity, the second stack being adapted to be coupled to said second zone of the manifold and to the coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports associated with said second zone, the first zone characteristic being such that only a fuel cell stack having said first capacity can be coupled thereto, and the second zone characteristic being such that only a fuel cell stack having said second capacity can be coupled thereto, the first and second characteristics compising first and second different spacings of inlet or outlet ports. 2. The fuel cell assembly of claim 1, wherein: the manifold having at least a further fuel cell connecting zone having a further characteristic, the further characteristic being different from the first and second characteristic, the further zone having coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports; and a further group of fuel cells coupled together to form a further fuel cell stack having a further electrical power capacity, the further stack being operatively coupled to said further zone of the manifold and to the coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports associated with said further zone, said further characteristic being such that only a fuel cell stack having said further capacity can be coupled thereto. 3. The fuel cell assembly of claim 1, wherein each fuel cell stack comprises: a housing coupled to a molded base, the base and housing enclosing a plurality of fuel cells; a pair of electrical connectors mounted in the base and electrically coupled to the fuel cells; a hydrogen inlet formed in the base and for communicating hydrogen fuel to the fuel cells; a hydrogen outlet formed in the base and for communicating hydrogen fuel from the fuel cells; an air inlet formed in the base and for communicating air to the fuel cells; an air outlet formed in the base and for communicating air from the fuel cells; a coolant inlet formed in the base and for communicating coolant to the fuel cells; and a coolant outlet formed in the base and for communicating coolant from the fuel cells. 4. The fuel cell assembly of claim 1, wherein each fuel cell stack comprises: a housing coupled to a molded base, the base and housing enclosing a plurality of fuel cells; a pair of electrical connectors mounted in the base and electrically coupled to the fuel cells, and a set of fuel, air and coolant inlets and outlets, the connectors and the set of inlets and outlets for the first stack has a first configuration, the connectors and the set of inlets and outlets for the second stack having a second configuration which differs from the first configuration. 5. The fuel cell assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a block-off plate adapted for coupling to a zone of the manifold and sealing the ports of said zone from an exterior environment. 6. The fuel cell assembly of claim 5, wherein: a larger diameter manifold bore extends into the manifold and forms an annular shoulder between said bore and a smaller diameter passage formed in the manifold; a plate bore extends into the block-off plate; an O-ring seal is mounted in an annular groove formed in the wall of plate bore; and cylindrical tube has one end sealingly received by bore and engaging the shoulder, and the other end of tube is releasably received by the plate bore and is sealingly engaged by the O-ring seal. 7. The fuel cell assembly of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the manifold ports comprises a bore which extends into the manifold and forms an annular shoulder, the bore having a threaded portion; a hollow check valve seat member is screwed into the threaded portion and forms a check valve seat; a check valve ball is received by the bore; a spring is mounted in the bore and urges a check valve ball into engagement with seat to prevent communication between the manifold port and the fuel cell stack port; and a valve plunger mounted in and projecting from the fuel cell stack port, when the fuel cell stack is placed against the manifold, the valve plunger engaging and moving the ball away from seat and opening communication between the manifold port and the fuel cell stack port. 8. The fuel cell assembly of claim 7, wherein: the plunger has a hollow base received in a bore in the fuel cell stack, a hollow cylindrical sleeve projecting from the base, a central stem projecting from the base and the sleeve, and a check ball engager mounted on an outer end of the stem. 9. The fuel cell assembly of claim 8, wherein: the stem comprises a plurality of axially and radially extending web members extending through the sleeve, and the base, sleeve and stem forming passages which communicates the end of the stem with the stack port. 10. The fuel cell assembly of claim 9, wherein: O-ring seals and are mounted in grooves on the sleeve and check ball engager, respectively, said seals engaging the check valve seat member and preventing communication between the manifold port and the external environment when the plunger is received by the check valve seat member. 11. The fuel cell assembly of claim 1, wherein: a larger diameter manifold bore extends into the manifold and forms an annular shoulder between said bore and a smaller diameter passage formed in the manifold; a stack bore extends into the fuel cell stack or block-off plate; an O-ring seal is mounted in an annular groove formed in the wall of stack bore; and cylindrical tube has one end sealingly received by bore and engaging the shoulder, and the other end of tube is releasably received by the stack bore and is sealingly engaged by the O-ring seal. 12. A fuel cell assembly comprising: a manifold having a first fuel cell connecting zone having a first characteristic and at least a second fuel cell connecting zone having a second characteristic, the first characteristic being different from the second characteristic, each zone having coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports, the manifold having a plurality of passages therein communicating with said ports; a first group of fuel cells coupled together to form a first fuel cell stack having a first electrical power capacity, the first stack being adapted to be operatively coupled to said first zone of the manifold and to the coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports associated with said first zone; and at least a second group of fuel cells coupled together to form a second fuel cell stack having a second electrical power capacity which differs from the first electrical power capacity, the second stack being adapted to be coupled to said second zone of the manifold and to the coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports associated with said second zone, the first zone characteristic being such that only a fuel cell stack having said first capacity can be coupled thereto, and the second zone characteristic being such that only a fuel cell stack having said second capacity can be coupled thereto, the first and second characteristics comprising first and second areas having different sizes. 13. A fuel cell assembly comprising: a manifold having a first fuel cell connecting zone having a first characteristic and at least a second fuel cell connecting zone having a second characteristic, the first characteristic being different from the second characteristic, each zone having coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports, the manifold having a plurality of passages therein communicating with said ports; a first group of fuel cells coupled together to form a first fuel cell stack having a first electrical power capacity, the first stack being adapted to be operatively coupled to said first zone of the manifold and to the coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports associated with said first zone; and at least a second group of fuel cells coupled together to form a second fuel cell stack having a second electrical power capacity which differs from the first electrical power capacity, the second stack being adapted to be coupled to said second zone of the manifold and to the coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports associated with said second zone, the first zone characteristic being such that only a fuel cell stack having said first capacity can be coupled thereto, and the second zone characteristic being such that only a fuel cell stack having said second capacity can be coupled thereto, the first and second characteristics comprising first and second differing arrangements of inlet and outlet ports. 14. A fuel cell assembly comprising: a manifold having a first fuel cell connecting zone having a first characteristic and at least a second fuel cell connecting zone having a second characteristic, the first characteristic being different from the second characteristic, each zone having coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports, the manifold having a plurality of passages therein communicating with said ports; a first group of fuel cells coupled together to form a first fuel cell stack having a first electrical power capacity, the first stack being adapted to be operatively coupled to said first zone of the manifold and to the coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports associated with said first zone; and at least a second group of fuel cells coupled together to form a second fuel cell stack having a second electrical power capacity which differs from the first electrical power capacity, the second stack being adapted to be coupled to said second zone of the manifold and to the coolant, fuel and air inlet and outlet ports associated with said second zone, the first zone characteristic being such that only a fuel cell stack having said first capacity can be coupled thereto, and the second zone characteristic being such that only a fuel cell stack having said second capacity can be coupled thereto, the first and second characteristics comprising first and second different arrangements of inlet or outlet ports.