TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Component: The hydrogen electrode is free of noble metals. The oxygen electrode is free of noble metals. The PEM fuel cell comprises the hydrogen electrode including the anode active material free of noble metals, and/or the oxygen electrode including the cathode active material free of noble metals.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The non-noble metal hydrogen oxidation catalyst comprises a hydrogen storage alloy, and a high-surface area carbide including transition metal(s). The non-noble metal oxygen reduction catalyst comprises the high-surface area carbide; metal oxide(s) from perovskites, spinels or pyrochlores; and one or more titanium sub-oxides having the formula (A): TiOx. The high-surface area carbide includes tungsten and/or molybdenum. The perovskites have the formula (I): A1-xA'xBO3. The pyrochlores have the formula (II): A2B2-xA_OO. The spinels have the formula (III): AB2O4.x (of formula (A)) = greater than or equal to0.65 and less than or equal to1.25;A (of formula (I)) = a lanthanide;A' = an alkaline earth metal;B (of formula (I)) = a first row transition metal;A (of formula (II)) = a rare earth element, Ti, Pb, or Bi;B (of formula (II)) = a transition metal;A (of formula (III)) = a nonmagnetic metal;andB (of formula (III)) = a transition metal.Preferred Property: The high-surface area carbide has a surface area of 150-300 m2/g.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Component: The hydrogen storage alloy is from rare-earth metal alloys, Misch metal based alloys, zirconium based alloys, titanium based alloys, magnesium/nickel based alloys, tantalum based alloys, and/or tungsten based alloys. It is at least partially coated with an acid resistant coating from one or more of metals, metal oxides, metal carbides, nitrides or fluoropolymers.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The non-noble metal hydrogen oxidation catalyst comprises a hydrogen storage alloy, and a high-surface area carbide including transition metal(s). The non-noble metal oxygen reduction catalyst comprises the high-surface area carbide; metal oxide(s) from perovskites, spinels or pyrochlores; and one or more titanium sub-oxides having the formula (A): TiOx. The high-surface area carbide includes tungsten and/or molybdenum. The perovskites have the formula (I): A1-xA'xBO3. The pyrochlores have the formula (II): A2B2-xA_OO. The spinels have the formula (III): AB2O4.x (of formula (A)) = greater than or equal to0.65 and less than or equal to1.25;A (of formula (I)) = a lanthanide;A' = an alkaline earth metal;B (of formula (I)) = a first row transition metal;A (of formula (II)) = a rare earth element, Ti, Pb, or Bi;B (of formula (II)) = a transition metal;A (of formula (III)) = a nonmagnetic metal;andB (of formula (III)) = a transition metal.Preferred Property: The high-surface area carbide has a surface area of 150-300 m2/g.