Richard H. Griffiths
Encyclopedia
Richard H. Griffiths is an entrepreneur and advisor who has worked in several diverse industries throughout the world. He is a holder of several patents, was one of the pioneers of the electric vehicle
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...

 industry, and has most recently worked in the fields of nation branding
Nation branding
Nation branding is a field of theory and practice which aims to measure, build and manage the reputation of countries . Some approaches applied, such as an increasing importance on the symbolic value of products, have led countries to emphasise their distinctive characteristics...

 and industry image management.

Family

Richard H. Griffiths is the second son of Ann and Graham Griffiths of Cheshire, England and Brother to Mark Steven Griffiths, a Canadian Forces specialist. He is also father to Adrian Griffiths.

Patents and inventions 1999–2003

On May 10 2002, Mr. Griffiths developed a software application for use in cinemas. The application used in cinema computer kiosks in order to gain instant post-movie opinions of cinema-goers: patent. Following the development of this properitary system, Griffiths founded Filmfly, a company which sought to place integrated touchscreen kiosks within movie theatres. The company forged alliances with both major hollywood film studos as well as cinemas. The company was sold through a public offering on the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...

.

Following the sale, the underlying technology became a user portal called moviefly.

On August 1 2002, Griffiths registered another patent for a self-regulating water supply system for pets: patent. The low tech application was adapted for use into many other market segments including applications for third world water development program.

Electric Vehicles: 2000–2010

Richard H. Griffiths later focused on the development of the electric car
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...

 industry, working as a founder and pioneer in the early stage lithium-electric market.

He created relationships with NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...

 and in working with their alternative energy fleet, created a Space Act Agreement
Space Act Agreement
Space Act Agreement is a type of legal agreement specified in the National Aeronautics and Space Act that established NASA. Agreements of this type have been reached under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services and Commercial Crew Development programs are examples of Space Act agreements...

 for the development of electric cars within NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...

 and at Kennedy Space Center.
Griffiths, working with several manufactures, developed electric drive systems for the following vehicles:
  • PT Cruiser
  • ADVANCED UTV
  • Mini Cooper


In 2005, Griffiths was involved in the creation of legislation allowing all electric vehicles to be used as New York city taxis. The legislation was accepted in accordance with section 1043(e) of the Charter of the City of New York following a hearing on September 8 2005. The project was the first of its kind and paved the way for further development of electric vehicles for fleet and public transport.

Griffiths continues to work in the alternative energy vehicle industry and as of 2010 was working on projects with NASA and the United States federal government.

Latin America

In recent years, Mr. Griffiths has worked in an advisory role to Governments and industries in Latin America. He developed projects and programs in Mexico (Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...

 for the federal government and also in the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...

 spending several years in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...

 working on social projects with Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...

 and several NGOs. During this period, he worked to link projects with the United States Government and USAID.
Griffiths began working in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

 in mid 2008 and developed programs to use leading Colombian industries as re-branding vehicles for the nation. He worked closely with the Asociation of Colombian Flower Exporters (Asocolflores) to create high profile events linking Colombia with flowers. On November 17 2008 he executed the Colombia Pride Day event in New York City; 100 Colombian-Americans handed out over 100,000 Colombian roses on the street of Manhattan to New Yorkers with the message 'from Colombia with love'. The program gained media coverage from various major outlets including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal.

Other nations

Mr. Griffiths continues to advise countries such as Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

 and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....

on the public policy. Mr. Griffiths is currently advising several countries on Image and nation branding. His programs with the image of Colombia such as Initiatives are being taken for changing its image from a "cocaine-based economy" to "Branding Colombia." The first part of the "Branding Colombia" series refers to using flowers to change people's perceptions.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK