This paper proposes a new method for estimating the state and lifespan of fuel cells in operation by fuel cell equivalent impedance modeling by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and observing degradation. The performance change of fuel cells takes place in the form of changes in each parameter value comprising an equivalent AC impedance circuit; monitoring such changes allows for the prediction of the state and lifespan of a fuel cell. In the experiments, the AC impedance of high-temperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells was measured at constant time intervals during their continuous operation for over 2200 h. The expression for the lifespan of a fuel cell was deduced by curve fitting the changes in each parameter to a polynomial. Electric double layer capacitance and charge transfer resistance, which show the reduction reaction of the cathode, were used as major parameters for judging the degradation; a method of using time constants is proposed to more accurately estimate the degree of degradation. In addition, an algorithm that can evaluate the soundness and lifespan of a fuel cell is proposed: it compares the measured time constant of the fuel cell being tested with that of average lifespan fuel cell. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.