In　this　paper,　we　proposed　a　hierarchical　model　predictive　control　(H-MPC)　strategy　to　optimize　the　efficiency　of　the　polymer　electrolyte　membrane　fuel　cell　(PEMFC)　hybrid　electric　vehicles　(HEV).　A　linearized　control　oriented　FCHEV　model　is　presented　first.　Then,　we　construct　the　H-MPC　strategy　control　scheme,　consisting　of　an　upper　and　a　lower-level　MPC　controller.　The　upper-level　MPC　controller　is　designed　to　optimize　the　power　splitting　ratio　(PSR)　between　the　PEMFC　and　battery　pack,　while　the　lower-level　controller　is　used　to　realize　the　tracking　of　maximum　PEMFC　net　output　power,　via　optimizing　the　oxygen　excessive　ratio　(OER).　A　convex　polyhedral　set　is　used　as　a　constraint　in　the　lower-level　MPC　controller　to　guaranty　the　safe　operation　of　the　compressor.　The　US06　driving　cycle　is　adopted　to　evaluate　the　performance　of　the　proposed　method,　and　up　to　7.79%　equivalent　fuel　consumption　is　expected.　(C)　2018,　IFAC　(International　Federation　of　Automatic　Control)　Hosting　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.