The invention is a flexible, micro-fabricated fuel cell and fuel cell stack that can be helically wound or bend into cylindrical shapes. The electrolyte is a proton exchange membrane (PEM) upon which can be printed, by ink jet means, the anode and cathode electrodes and the current collectors that convey current to or from the edges of the PEM which has a thickness on the order of 0.001 to 0.010 inch. Pluralities of the series connected fuel cell stacks can be arranged in electrical and physical parallel with one another to provide what are batteries of fuel cell stacks that can be connected by manifolds to sources of fuel and oxidizer. The invention is directed to a thin, light-weight, flexible fuel cell assembly that can be produced in ambient conditions using standard micro-fabrication techniques, such as thick film printing and ink jet deposition. Thick film printing techniques, screen printing or ink jet printing, are used to deposit porous current collectors on either side of the membrane.