Fuel cells are devices that convert hydrogen into electric power using electrochemical reactions. It is an essential to understand the underlying dynamic behaviour of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and optimize their performance. In this paper, the analysis of activation, ohmic and mass transport voltage drop is viewed. Different operating parameters such as the exchange current density, the transfer coefficient, electrolyte thickness, cell useful area and temperature effect on the voltage-current density curve are simulated. The results show that the voltage drops decrease the voltage and efficiency of the cell. Activation voltage drop reduces the voltage of about 0.2 V, ohmic voltage drop up to 0.8 V and mass transport to nearly to 1 V in high current densities. In addition, high pressures of hydrogen, oxygen and water lead to an increasing of the cell output power. Moreover, the temperature affects the performance of the cell that is reduced in low operating temperature conditions. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.