Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) offers the possibility of generating power with high efficiency and low emissions for mobile and stationary applications. A very crucial factor to use the PEFC-based engine for transportation purposes is the choice of fuel and fuel processor, proper for a realistic, on-board, employment. This paper covers the in-progress activities performed by CNR-ITAE on experimental studies of the autothermal reforming of propane on a proprietary ceria-supported platinum catalyst: this study represents the first step of a project oriented for the development of a compact and reliable fuel processor, fed by LPG, to be used in a PEFC vehicle. The main issues that should be satisfied by the hydrogen generator will be high fuel conversion, stable performance for repeated start-up and shut-down cycles, capability to process different hydrocarbons, etc. In this respect, the CO preferential oxidation step has also been studied by the performance analysis of commercial Pt/Al2O3 and Ru/Al2O3 catalysts (Engelhard Co.). © 2005 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.