Fuel　cells　are　developing　towards　high　power　output.　As　a　key　auxiliary　component　of　fuel　cell　systems,　adopting　a　turbine-based　air　compressor　combined　with　energy　recovery　technology　can　effectively　reduce　parasitic　power　consumption.　However,　the　ultra-high　speed　and　expansion　torque　interference　of　compressors　pose　challenges　for　control　and　management.　To　improve　the　output　stability　of　the　air　compressor　and　enhance　the　system　efficiency,　a　coupling　model　(mean-relative　error　of　6.313　%)　including　the　compressor　static　characteristics　and　motor　dynamics　is　established,　and　an　optimal　sliding　mode　surface　containing　all　system　state　matrix　and　weighted　matrix　information　is　designed　to　achieve　compressor　superior　dynamic　and　steady-state　performance,　and　an　operating　strategy　of　the　compressor　by　regulating　oxygen　excess　ratio　is　developed　to　avoid　the　expansion　end　working　inefficiently.　Numerical　simulations　were　conducted　under　the　China　heavy-duty　commercial　vehicle　test　cycle　(CHTC).　Compared　to　traditional　methods,　the　speed　control　root-mean-square　error　was　reduced　by　2.67　%,　and　the　power　consumption　of　the　compressor　was　also　lowered.　Furthermore,　the　hardware-in-the-loop　test　results　were　in　high　agreement　with　the　simulations,　confirming　the　feasibility　of　the　proposed　controller.　The　proposed　control　strategy　could　significantly　improve　the　performance　of　the　turbine-based　air　compressor　and　indicates　the　practical　feasibility.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd