NOVELTY - A rapid start-up and operating system has an electrical power supply (58) that supplies direct current to the fuel cell (22) through a power switch (60); and a hydrogen storage tank (62) secured in fluid communication with a cathode flow field (36) and a fuel inlet line (18) to selectively store hydrogen produced within cathode flow field whenever a primary load switch (56) is open and power switch is closed to electrochemically transfer hydrogen from anode catalyst (24) to cathode catalyst (26) for storage of transferred hydrogen in hydrogen storage tank.    USE - Rapid start-up and operating system for rapidly starting up reformate-fuel powered fuel cell power plant used in e.g. transportation vehicle, portable power plant, stationary power plant.    ADVANTAGE - Eliminates any need for costly storage of large amounts of pure hydrogen gas and provides for utilization of readily available and easily stored fuels by providing for virtually instantaneous start-up of the fuel cell power plant deployed as back-up power supply. Eliminates any need for storing energy such as in large batteries to supply electricity while reformer is starting up by using small amount of stored hydrogen gas to run the fuel cell while reformer is starting up. Enables operation of rapid start-up and operating system to store more hydrogen gas in the storage tank than is necessary for start-up of the system so that the additional stored gas may quickly supplement the reformate fuel to meet sudden increase in electricity demand by the primary load. Provides rapid start-up and operating system that generates and stores hydrogen gas to facilitate spontaneous starting of the power plant and to meet variable load demands.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method of operating a reformate fuel powered fuel cell power plant.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a simplified schematic diagram of a rapid start-up and operating system for reformate-fuel powered fuel cell power plant.    Fuel inlet line (18)    Fuel cell (22)    Anode catalyst (24)    Cathode catalyst (26)    Cathode flow field (36)    Primary load switch (56)    Electrical power supply (58)    Power switch (60)    Hydrogen storage tank (62)