A hydrogen fuelled, 30 W proton exchange membrane fuel-cell (PEMFC) system is presented that is able to operate at an ambient temperature between -20 and 40 degrees C. The system, which comprises the fuel-cell stack, pumps, humidifier, valves and blowers is fully characterized in a climatic chamber under various ambient temperatures. Successful cold start-up and stable operation at -20 degrees C are reported as well as the system behaviour during long-term at 40 degrees C. A simple thermal model of the stack is developed and validated, and accounts for heat losses by radiation and convection. Condensation of steam is addressed as well as reaction gas depletion. The stack is regarded as a uniform heat source. The electrochemical reaction is not resolved. General design rules for the cold start-up of a portable fuel-cell stack are deduced by the thermal model and are taken into consideration for the design. The model is used for a comparison between active-assisted cold start-up procedures with a passive cold start-up from temperatures below 0 degrees C. It is found that a passive cold start-up may not be the most efficient strategy. Additionally, the influence of different stack concepts on the start-up behaviour is analysed by the thermal model. Three power classes of PEMFC stacks are compared: a Ballard Mk902 module for automotive applications with 85 kW, the forerunner stack Ballard Mk5 (5 kW) for medium power applications, and the developed OutdoorFC stack (30 W), for portable applications. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.