Typical Areas of R&D Activity

• Electrified powertrains, battery pack design, cell selection, BMS algorithms, thermal management, inverters and e-axles.
• Energy and charging, fast-charge strategies, grid integration, charge scheduling, V2G control and degradation modelling.
• Hydrogen and alternative fuels, storage, fuel cell balance-of-plant, combustion calibration and emissions control.
• ADAS and autonomy, perception and sensor fusion, planning and control, functional safety and HIL/SIL validation.
• Lightweight structures and materials, composites, high-strength alloys, joining methods and crash performance.
• NVH and durability, electric powertrain refinement, acoustic treatments, road load data and correlation to test.
• Manufacturing and quality, battery pack assembly, high-voltage safety, in-line inspection and traceability systems.
• Connectivity and telematics, OTA updates, embedded cybersecurity, fleet analytics and predictive maintenance.
• Logistics and rail, timetable optimisation, braking and traction control, energy recovery and condition monitoring.

Common Challenges

Mobility programmes span multiple disciplines and suppliers, and key innovation is often embedded within delivery schedules and regulatory milestones. Demonstrating why solutions were not readily deducible, and separating routine calibration or compliance activity from genuine R&D, is critical for a defensible claim.

• Uncertainty definition, showing gaps in baseline knowledge across performance, safety, range, charging or manufacturability.
• Evidence and traceability, linking requirements, modelling, prototypes, test data and failure modes to R&D objectives.
• Attribution across the supply chain, allocating qualifying effort for staff, EPWs and subcontractors within complex contracts.
• Territorial and contractual rules, ensuring eligibility under the merged RDEC scheme and the correct claimant position.

How We Support You

• Partner-led discovery with chief engineers, systems owners and validation leads to surface non-trivial technical work.
• Preparation of clear technical narratives that evidence baseline, uncertainty, approach and outcomes, aligned to HMRC’s interpretation.
• Financial mapping across staffing, EPWs, subcontractors, software licensing and eligible cloud activity, matched to your cost structures.
• Review of subcontracting and territorial rules under the merged RDEC framework to protect claim integrity.
• Comprehensive enquiry defence as standard, with proactive evidence packs to minimise disruption if questions arise.
• Benchmarking of scope and value against sector peers and current reform trends to support best practice.