NOVELTY - A fuel cell system (50) has: a hydrogen storage system (56) for storing and releasing hydrogen; a fuel cell (52) in fluid communication with the hydrogen storage system for receiving released hydrogen and for electrochemically reacting hydrogen with an oxidant to produce electricity and an anode exhaust (64); and a catalytic combustor (54) in fluid communication with fuel cell for receiving a portion of anode exhaust and for catalytically reacting anode exhaust to produce an offgas (66).    USE - Used for cars (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The system enables utilization of metal hydride storage tanks with higher hydrogen storage capacities without requiring independent heat generation to release the hydrogen.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The fuel cell system comprises: a hydrogen storage system for storing and releasing hydrogen; a fuel cell in fluid communication with the hydrogen storage system for receiving released hydrogen from the hydrogen storage system and for electrochemically reacting the hydrogen with an oxidant to produce electricity and an anode exhaust; and a catalytic combustor in fluid communication with the fuel cell for receiving portion of the anode exhaust and for catalytically reacting the anode exhaust to produce offgas having an elevated temperature that is greater than the temperature of the anode exhaust. Heat from the offgas is used to release the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage system.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for the following:    (1) a hydrogen storage system comprising: a hydrogen storage material for storing and releasing hydrogen; an exhaust source for producing an exhaust having a hydrogen content of 0-15 vol.%; and a catalytic combustor in fluid communication with the exhaust source for receiving the exhaust and for catalytically reacting the exhaust to produce offgas;    (2) releasing hydrogen comprising: electrochemically reacting hydrogen with an oxidant to produce electricity and an exhaust; catalytically reacting the exhaust to create off having elevated temperature; and heating a hydrogen storage material using the offgas to release the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage material; and    (3) an automobile comprising: the hydrogen storage system; a fuel cell in fluid communication with the hydrogen storage system; and a catalytic combustor in fluid communication with the fuel cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a schematic view of the fuel cell system.    Fuel cell system (50)    Fuel cell (52)    Catalytic combustor (54)    Hydrogen storage system (56)    Anode exhaust (64)    Offgas (66)