Compact fuel cell stack with current shunt

A fuel cell comprising:

• compression members arranged at first and second ends of the fuel cell;
• at least two membrane electrode assembly (MEA) stacks having electrically positive and negative ends, the MEA stacks arranged side by side between the compression members;
• a current shunt internal to the fuel cell, the current shunt electrically connecting the MEA stacks at the second end of the fuel cell;
• positive and negative electrical connections for the fuel cell, the positive and negative connections arranged at the first end of the fuel cell;
• and
• coolant passages to facilitate the flow of coolant through the MEA stacks in a direction between the first and second ends of the fuel cell, and wherein the coolant passages are arranged so that a region of closest contact between the MEA stacks that is directly coupled by the coolant is a region of lowest electrical potential difference between the at least two MEA stacks.