Fuel cell stack compression assembly

A fuel cell comprising:

• a fuel cell stack and a compression assembly,
• the compression assembly comprising a first section at a first end of the fuel cell stack and a second section at a second end of the fuel cell stack with the first section and the second section being connected by a plurality of connection elements so as to provide force to the fuel cell stack;
• the first section including in series a first end plate manifold operatively coupled to the fuel cell stack, a first section of thermal insulation, a first cold compression plate and a first compression distribution plate;
• the second section including in series an opposing end plate manifold operatively connected to the fuel cell stack, an opposing layer of thermal insulation, an opposing cold compression plate and an opposing compression distribution plate;
• each compression distribution plate including a plurality of extension elements extending outwardly from a central unitary section and substantially parallel to one another, and with the connection elements connecting respective extension elements of the first compression distribution plate and the opposing compression distribution plate in a manner to produce force between the compression distribution plates and to the fuel cell stack.