NOVELTY - An electrically conductive element for a fuel cell, contains an electrically conductive corrosion-susceptible metal substrate with a surface free of oxides and overlaid with an electrically conductive corrosion-resistant coating comprising element(s) from Groups 4, 5, 10, or 11 and having a thickness of less than 50 microns; and a corrosion-resistant electrically conductive polymer-based coating applied over the titanium-based coating on the surface.    USE - The inventive electrically conductive element, e.g. bipolar plate (56), is used for fuel cell as power source for electric vehicles or other applications.    ADVANTAGE - The inventive electrically conductive element is corrosion resistant and electrically conductive to promote power output and efficiency of the fuel cell.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An electrically conductive element for a fuel cell, comprises an electrically conductive corrosion-susceptible metal substrate having a surface (59, 63) susceptible to passivation by forming oxides in the presence of oxygen; and a corrosion-resistant electrically conductive polymer-based coating (132) applied over the titanium-based coating on the surface. The surface is free of the oxides and overlaid with an electrically conductive corrosion-resistant coating (130) comprising element(s) from Groups 4, 5, 10, or 11 and having a thickness of less than 50 microns. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method for treating an electrically conductive element in a fuel cell, comprising providing a conductive corrosion-susceptible metal substrate having a surface susceptible to passivation by forming oxides in the presence of oxygen. The oxides are removed from the surface. The above specified electrically conductive coating is deposited into the surface. The above specified electrically conductive corrosion-resistant polymer-based coating overlaying the coating comprising the element(s) is applied on the surface.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a magnified portion of the bipolar plate.    Bipolar plate (56)    Substrate's surface (59, 63)    Channels (78)    Corrosion-resistant coating (130)    Polymer-based coating (132)