TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Fuel: The fuel stream is gasoline, naphtha, diesel fuel or light hydrocarbon fuel that is maintained in a liquid state in the nickel desulfurization station. It is preferably gasoline or diesel fuel that is maintained in a vaporous state in the station.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred System: The system further comprises a pressurizer in the station to ensure the liquid state of the fuel stream. It further comprises an autothermal reformer station, boiler for generating steam and means for supplying air. The reformer station receives a mixture of desulfurized fuel from nickel station, steam from boiler and air from the supplying means and utilizes the fuel, steam and air mixture to produce hydrogen rich gas stream. It further comprises a shift converter station for receiving and processing the hydrogen rich gas stream from the reformer station. It further comprises a selective oxidizer station for receiving and processing output from converter station. It further comprises an ammonia scrubber station, preferably a contact cooler, for receiving and processing output from oxidizer station. The boiler is heated by a combination of fuel cell anode exhaust and unprocessed fuel from fuel stream, preferably by the former. It includes heat exchange components downstream of reformer station. The system further comprises heat exchanger interposed between autothermal reformer and cell stack assembly for bringing the hydrogen-rich gas to 170 degrees F prior to entering the cell stack assembly. It further comprises means for removing ammonia from hydrogen-rich gas prior to the latter entering the cell stack assembly.Preferred Conditions: Nickel desulfurization station operates at a pressure from ambient to 150 psi.Preferred Composition: Output from the shift converter station is a hydrogen rich gas with a CO content of 0.5-1%. Preferred Oxidizer Station: Selective oxidizer station includes two beds, the first operating at 300 degrees F while the second at 170 degrees F and hydrogen rich gas exiting the oxidizer has a CO content below 10 ppm. It preferably includes a single bed operating at 170 degrees F.Preferred Method: The method further comprises providing a supply of steam for operating an autothermal reformer. Preferred Assembly: Cell stack assembly includes one proton exchange membrane electrolyte.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalysts: Autothermal reformer station includes two catalyst beds, one comprising iron oxide catalyst and another comprising nickel catalyst, each deposited on lanthanum- stabilized alumina.