The　study　investigates　the　optimization　of　auxiliary　heating　strategies　during　the　cold　start　of　fuel　cells,　analyzing　the　effects　of　factors　such　as　bipolar　plate　materials,　coolant　types,　positive　temperature　coefficient　(PTC)　heating　power,　initial　current　density,　and　coolant　flow　rate　on　cold　start　performance.　The　findings　indicate　that　metal　bipolar　plates,　due　to　their　lower　thermal　mass,　heat　up　faster　than　graphite　bipolar　plates,　facilitating　a　quicker　cold　start.　While　coolant　circulation　enhances　temperature　distribution　uniformity,　it　also　increases　the　system’s　thermal　mass.　Increasing　PTC　heating　power　can　accelerate　the　heating　process,　but　it　offers　limited　improvements　in　cold　start　performance　and　increases　energy　consumption.　Under　conditions　of　−20　°C,　by　optimizing　parameters　such　as　current　density　and　coolant　flow　rate,　the　fuel　cell　stack　can　achieve　a　cold　start　in　approximately　55　s,　significantly　improving　cold　start　performance　and　reducing　energy　consumption.　This　research　provides　optimized　strategies　for　the　application　of　fuel　cells　in　cold　environments.　©　The　Author(s)　2024.