NOVELTY - Hydrogen generator (10) comprises: housing including access panel; initiator assembly (16) disposed in housing and including at least one contact member; compressible member (20) having opposing first and second surfaces and within which contact members are disposed; and fuel unit (24) removably disposed in housing adjacent first surface of compressible member, where fuel unit contains hydrogen containing material that can release hydrogen gas when heated and exothermic mixture that can react exothermically upon initiation by energy from initiator assembly.    USE - The hydrogen generator is useful: in fuel cell battery (claimed); and for producing hydrogen gas.    ADVANTAGE - The hydrogen generator is easy and economical to manufacture and operate, has a user replaceable fuel unit containing a minimum number of components, requires minimal cleaning by the user, and can provide hydrogen gas in limited quantities as needed.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Hydrogen generator (10) comprises: a housing including an access panel, an initiator assembly (16) disposed in the housing and including at least one contact member; a compressible member (20) having opposing first and second surfaces and within which the contact members are disposed; and a fuel unit (24) removably disposed in the housing adjacent the first surface of the compressible member, where the fuel unit contains a hydrogen containing material that can release hydrogen gas when heated and an exothermic mixture that can react exothermically upon initiation by energy from the initiator assembly, where when no fuel unit is disposed in the hydrogen generator, the compressible member is uncompressed, and the contact members are at or below the second surface, when a fuel unit is disposed in the hydrogen generator, the compressible member is compressed such that the contact members extend beyond the second surface to make thermal contact with the fuel unit, and energy from the initiator assembly is conducted by the contact members to corresponding at least one quantities of the exothermic mixture to initiate an exothermic reaction therein, thus providing heat for the release of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen containing material. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a fuel cell battery and the hydrogen generator.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic view of hydrogen generator.    Hydrogen generator (10)    Initiator assembly (16)    Heating element (18)    Compressible member (20)    Fuel unit (24)