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Stress induced by an excessive difference in pressure between the air and the hydrogen in polymer electrolyte fuel cells degrades membrane durability. Controlling such stress improves the durability and solves one of the problems hampering commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles. Hydrogen pressure can be raised more rapidly than the air pressure by regulating the pressure of the high-pressure hydrogen storage tank. However, the response for reducing the hydrogen pressure varies depending on the level of current generation. The air pressure can be reduced rapidly by releasing air, whereas it takes longer to raise the air pressure owing to compression of the air taken in from the atmosphere.