Even more important, the plasmatron could speed the long- awaited transition to hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles.

FORBES: Technology

Working with scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ArvinMeritor researchers found an answer: the plasma fuel reformer, or plasmatron.

FORBES: Clearing the Air

The plasmatron is nothing like the orgasmatron in Woody Allen's Sleeper, but it does have engineers like William Taylor breathing heavily.

FORBES: Clearing the Air

The plasmatron, whose official name is the plasma fuel reformer, is an aluminum canister about the size of a Big Gulp drink.

FORBES: Clearing the Air

The technology behind the plasmatron could produce benefits far into the future.

FORBES: Clearing the Air

The plasmatron doesn't deal with soot emissions, but ArvinMeritor engineers are hoping to develop by the end of the decade future variants that would.

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ArvinMeritor's plasmatron will help trucks get to 2010 and beyond.

FORBES: Clearing the Air

ArvinMeritor says the plasmatron creates less sulphur buildup, too.

FORBES: Clearing the Air

The plasmatron probably wouldn't be able to power a fuel-cell vehicle by itself or eliminate the need for hydrogen-fueling stations but, say the engineers, it could be a bridge to hydrogen technology.

FORBES: Clearing the Air