TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Metal: The conductive core comprises a metal or metal alloy selected from aluminum, copper, nickel, platinum, titanium, gold plated metals, stainless steel and magnesium.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Compounds: The conductive polymer composite is a polybutadiene- or polyisoprene-based composite which comprises conductive filler (10-90 volume%), thermosetting polybutadiene or polyisoprene resin, unsaturated butadiene- or isoprene-containing polymer, functionalized liquid polybutadiene or polyisoprene resin, and monomer(s) with vinyl unsaturation selected from styrene, vinyl toluene, divinyl benzene, triallylcyanurate, diallylphthalate, and multifunctional acrylate monomers. The conductor filler in the form of fiber and/or platelets, is synthetic graphite. The poly butadiene or polyisoprene resin is epoxidized phenol novalac resin or epoxidized cresol novalac resin. The unsaturated butadiene or isoprene-containing polymer is a copolymer of isoprene or butadiene and another monomer, or block copolymer such as styrene-butadiene or methyl styrene-butadiene di-block polymer or a thermoplastic elasotmer block copolymer. The adhesion promoter is silane such as mercapto-functional silane or vinyl silane, titanate, or zirconate adhesion promoter.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Components: The conductive support further has at least one channel for conducting fluid which is an exterior channel for conducting fuel gas, fuel liquid, oxidant gas or oxidant liquid, or an interior channel for conducting cooling fluid. The conductive core further has heat transfer area in a form of a cooling fin. Preferred Properties: A thermal coefficient of expansion of the conductive core is same as a thermal coefficient of expansion of the conductive polymer composite, over an operative temperature range of fuel cell. The conductive support has volume resistivity of less than 0.5 OMEGA cm and a thermal conductivity of at least 5 watts/meter degreesK. EXAMPLE - Aluminum plates with thickness of 0.07 cm, width of 10.7 cm and length of 11 cm, were lightly abraded with sand-paper or using other abrading units. The aluminum plates were then washed with acetone and then pretreated with A1106 (solution of amino silane) (5 weight% (wt.%)), in acetone by dip coating. Then, the solvent was allowed to evaporate under ambient conditions. The plate was subsequently transferred to a preheated die. A conductive epoxy-based composite material comprising (in volume%) Sumiepoxy ESCN 195XL 25 (epoxidized cresol novolac resin) (11.73), Epiclon N-770 (epoxidized phenol novolac resin) (10.14), Asbury 3621 (natural graphite) (40.02), Asbury A99 (synthetic graphite) (20.69), calcium stearate (3.45), HRJ 11040 (phenol-formaldehyde polymer) (13.59), Ancamine K54 (2,4,6-tris dimethyl-amino methyl phenol) (0.21) and Lonzest GMS (glycerol mono stearate) (0.17), was filled in the mold cavity. The composite was compression molded onto the surface of the plate at 180degreesC mold temperature, 10000-12000 pounds/square inch (psi) cavity pressure for 4 minutes. The molded conductive polymer composite was cured at 240degreesC for 4 hours and an electrochemical cell electrically conductive support was obtained. An apparatus having the obtained support having active area covered with the polymeric composite, was obtained. The obtained support had very good electrical and solvent resistance properties and excellent mechanical integrity. The obtained support was rigid with good dimensional stability. As the obtained support was heated and cooled in cooling cycles, no bowing of the support was noted, thus temperature coefficient of expansion of the polymeric composite was same as the temperature coefficient of the aluminum. The obtained support had volume resistivity of 0.068 OMEGA-cm according to IPC TM-650 and a thermal conductivity of 13.4 watts/m K according to ASTM C518.