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Memorial Tributes Volume 25 (2023) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

ROBERTA J. NICHOLS
Pages 346-353

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 347...
... In 1958 she joined Space Technology Laboratory in Redondo Beach, CA, one of the prime contrac tors for the Air Force Space Program, and worked on com puter technology. When Congress formed the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA, in 1960, she was transferred there to work as a 347
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From page 348...
... In 1978 Roberta formed California's synthetic fuel office and personally converted a Ford Pinto station wagon to run on methanol. A year later, a Ford Motor Company official learned of her work and hired her to be the driving force for alternative fuels at Ford.
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From page 349...
... These FFVs would be assigned a higher fuel economy value for CAFE purposes in recognition of the fact that they could displace gasoline use and thus reduce dependence on foreign oil. The special CAFE calculation encouraged the production of FFVs by helping automobile manufacturers meet the CAFE standards, and led to widespread adoption of FFV technology and greater demand for ethanol made from corn and other biomass (renewable organic material from plants and animals)
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From page 350...
... Roberta's research showed that the 15 percent gasoline provided adequate fuel vaporization for cold weather starting. Additionally, an E85 flame is easily visible in daylight for safety purposes.
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From page 351...
... These improvements resulted in high customer satisfaction with ethanol-fueled vehicles. As an accomplished veteran of boat and vintage car racing, in 1994 Roberta drove Ford's small electric Ecostar delivery van in the 600-mile American Tour de Sol, the world's largest electric and solar vehicle road rally; she finished second, behind another Ecostar.
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From page 352...
... , on the Advanced Automotive Technologies Plan (1997–98) , and for a Review of the National Automated Highway System Consortium Research Program (1997–98)
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Key Terms

  • alternative fuels
  • ford motor
  • motor company
  • widespread adoption
  • ffv technology

  • percent gasoline
  • ffv taurus
  • fuel vehicles
  • fuel economy
  • advanced automotive

  • fuel cars
  • internal combustion
  • average fuel
  • energy source
  • imported oil

  • battery storing
  • electric vehicles
  • economy value
  • son robert
  • force space

  • domestic energy
  • cafe purposes
  • vehicle models
  • students continues
  • vehicle external

  • spark advance
  • tains oxygen
  • consortium research
  • corporate average
  • environmental commitment


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