The proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has the advantage of high energy conversion efficiency, environmental friendliness, and zero carbon emissions. Therefore, as an attractive alternative energy, it is widely used in vehicles. Due to its high nonlinearity, strong time variation, and complex failure mechanisms, it is extremely difficult to predict PEMFC life in electric vehicles. The uncertainty of life predictions for the PEMFC limits its wide application. Since it is particularly important to accurately carry out PEMFC life predictions, significant research efforts are directed toward tackling this issue by adopting effective methods. In this paper, a number of PEMFC life prediction methods for electric vehicles are reviewed and summarized. The goal of this review is to render feasible and potential solutions for dealing with PEMFC life issues considering dynamic vehicle conditions. Based on this review, the reader can also easily understand the research status of PEMFC life prediction methods and this review lays a theoretical foundation for future research.

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate the stability, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) mechanism and activity of B‐doped FeN₄CNT (carbon nano‐tube [CNT]) and FeN₄G (G, graphene). The B‐doped catalysts are more stable and active than that of the un‐doped, especially for FeN₄B2G and FeN₄B2CNT. Based on the Mulliken charge and electrostatic potential surface of these catalysts, Fe atom is found to be the most active site for the adsorption of O‐contained species. It is shown that their adsorption energies decrease in the range: O > OH > Co‐ad OH > OOH > O₂ > H₂O > H₂O₂ on these catalysts. H₂O₂ will be directly dissociated into two co‐adsorbed OH* or O* + H₂O* instead of H₂O₂ on the graphene series catalysts, and the process of reaction (H₂O₂ + * → 2OH*) on the active sites of the CNT series catalysts is strongly exothermic. Hence, desorption of H₂O₂* into the solution is difficult to proceed during the oxygen reduction process. All the catalysts are expected to promote a single site four electron process through the reaction path of I (O₂ → O₂* → OOH* → O* → OH* → H₂O) except for the catalyst of FeN₄CNT. The rate‐determining step (RDS) for ORR process on FeN₄B2G is the first reduction step (O₂* → OOH*), while the RDS is the fourth reduction step (OH* → H₂O) for the other catalysts. FeN₄B2G exhibits the largest on‐set potentials of 0.53 V, which is larger than the on‐set potential of un‐doped B FeN₄G catalyst (0.39 V). In addition, the B‐doped FeN₄CNT catalyst shows the better activity compared to the un‐doped ones.