This　study　proposes　a　variable　nozzle　turbine　(VNT)-based　air　compressor　system　that　recovers　energy　from　high-power　vehicular　fuel　cell　exhaust　to　reduce　parasitic　power　and　enhance　efficiency.　The　system　utilizes　exhaust　gas　kinetic　energy　to　drive　a　turbine　connected　to　a　high-speed　compressor　motor　via　the　main　shaft.　By　dynamically　adjusting　the　nozzle　opening　degree　(NOD),　the　turbine　optimizes　exhaust　flow　area　and　backpressure,　maximizing　energy　recovery　power　across　operating　conditions.　Simultaneously,　regulating　the　oxygen　excess　ratio　(OER)　ensures　optimal　cathode　oxygen　supply　for　the　proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cell　(PEMFC).　A　control-oriented　model　capturing　VNT-based　air　compressor　and　PEMFC　coupling　dynamics　is　developed　and　validated.　Multi-start　sequential　quadratic　programming　identifies　optimal　OER　trajectories　that　minimize　compressor　motor　power　while　maintaining　electrochemical　performance.　To　track　the　target,　a　linear　parameter　variation　adaptive　model　predictive　control　is　implemented.　Relationships　between　NOD,　OER,　and　PEMFC　power　characteristics　are　embedded　in　a　control-oriented　model　validated　through　map　testing.　The　proposed　strategy　demonstrates　superior　OER　tracking　under　dynamic　loads　like　the　China　Heavy-duty　Truck　Cycle.　The　integrated　system　is　3.5788%　higher　than　fixed-OER　strategies　with　delivering　20.5028 kWh　net　energy　output,　it　demonstrating　effective　coordination　of　energy　recovery　and　oxygen　regulation.　©　2025　Wiley-VCH　GmbH.