A fuel cell system having a fuel cell, the fuel cell having a membrane-electrode assembly; a fuel reservoir containing a liquid fuel; a conduit coupling the fuel reservoir to the fuel cell; and an electrokinetic fuel pump coupled to the conduit, the electrokinetic fuel pump having a plurality of electrodes; wherein the electrokinetic fuel pump moves fuel from the fuel reservoir through the conduit to the fuel cell; and wherein the electrokinetic fuel pump electrodes do not deleteriously affect the performance of the membrane-electrode assembly.