A layered bipolar plate assembly and fuel cell stacks and fuel cell systems incorporating the same. In some embodiments, the bipolar plate assembly includes a structural metal that provides strength to the assembly and a conductive metal that provides favorable electrical conductivity. In some embodiments, the structural metal is diffusion bonded to the conductive metal to decrease the electrical resistance between the structural metal and the conductive metal. A flow field established on the surface of the bipolar plate assembly is present in some embodiments. The flow field may be established by sacrificially etching the conductive metal with an etchant configured to etch the conductive metal while leaving the structural metal at most substantially unetched. Methods for forming the bipolar plate assemblies and fuel cell systems including fuel cell stacks with the bipolar plate assemblies are also disclosed.