e-FREIGHT 2030 powers up with first electric HGV on the road​

eFREIGHT 2030 has accelerated the shift to greener transport with the delivery of its first electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV). This key milestone is part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme, which aims to transform the future of road transportation. 

The 42-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech T 4×2 has been delivered to Welch’s Transport, the Cambridgeshire-based freight, haulage and logistics business where it will operate out of their flagship site in Duxford, Cambridgeshire on regional distribution and long-haul deliveries.  

The arrival of the E-Tech also marks the first deployment of Renault Trucks’ heavy duty regional distribution model in customer operations in the UK.

Welch’s Transport and Renault Trucks are among the fourteen founding members of the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, part of the ZEHID Programme funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, which is introducing 100 eHGV tractor units and 32 new charging locations over a multi-year real world evaluation of electric HGVs that will shape the future of zero emission transport.  

Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said: “Our roads are undergoing a technological revolution, and I’m delighted that e-FREIGHT 2030, Renault Trucks and Welch’s Transport are coming along on the journey. 

 “A greener transport network is a key priority for this Government, which is why our demonstrator programme aims to scale up zero emission HGVs and install the right infrastructure to decarbonise road freight. This is an excellent example of industry and government collaborating to reach net zero.”

Family business, Welch’s Transport, brings 90 years of experience as a leading logistics provider in the East of England, with 160 staff and a fleet of 80 vehicles which comprises a mix of electric, diesel, and specialist HGVs. The introduction of the first Renault Trucks E-Tech T, which will be joined by a second early next year, marks a major step in the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. This follows Welch’s 2023 investment in a 19-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide for Cambridge’s first Net Zero delivery service and the installation of the UK’s first publicly accessible 150kW supercharger at its Duxford site, where the new eHGVs will be charged. 

With zero tailpipe emissions, the E-Tech T is powered by six 90 kWh batteries and three electric motors, delivering up to 490kW continuous power and maximum torque of 2400Nm, coupled to Renault Trucks’ Optidriver AT 2412 12 speed automated gearbox. 

The E-Tech T will handle general haulage and pallet distribution, supporting Welch’s Transport’s commitment to zero-emission deliveries in and around Greater Cambridge and beyond. 

Michael Boxwell, Group CEO of Voltempo, which heads up the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, said: “It’s fantastic to see the first electric HGVs on the road with Welch’s Transport as part of the eFREIGHT 2030 project, which combines the operational and technical expertise necessary to decarbonise road freight transport from the largest fleets to SMEs.  We’re eager to start gaining insights into the real-world performance of eHGVs to demonstrate how they can replace conventional HGVs at scale.” 

Chris Welch, Managing Director of The Welch Group said: “We’re incredibly proud to be at the forefront of this landmark shift towards decarbonising road freight. The introduction of our first fully electric 42-tonne HGV is not just a step forward for the Group, but a crucial milestone for the industry. This vehicle demonstrates how innovation, sustainability, and operational efficiency can go hand in hand as we work to make zero-emission freight a reality. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible within the SME environment and leading the way in sustainable logistics for the UK.” 

Carlos Rodrigues, Managing Director of Renault Trucks UK & Ireland said: “We’re delighted to see the first E-Tech T on the road with Welch’s Transport and look forward to many more joining eFREIGHT 2030 member fleets in the coming months. With over 100 Renault Trucks battery electric vehicles already operating in the UK, our dealer network—backed by four years of investment and development—is fully prepared to support operators as the industry accelerates this vital transition.” 

Press Release 30th May 2024

eFREIGHT 2030 consortium announces founding members to shape the future of zero emissions HGVs

The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme funded by the Department for Transport in partnership with Innovate UK, today announced the founding members of the consortium that will shape the future of zero emission HGVs

Consortium members include fleet operators Expect Distribution, Kuehne+Nagel, Maritime Transport, Menzies Distribution, Welch’s Transport and Wincanton; retailer Marks & Spencer; vehicle manufacturers DAF Trucks, Renault Trucks and Scania; software provider Dynamon, charge point manufacturer and eFREIGHT 2030 project lead, Voltempo Group; charging hub owner and operator, Fleete Group, and Data and research partner, Energy Systems Catapult.

Chairman of the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium and former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Sir Vince Cable said, “We are delighted to announce the line-up of the eFREIGHT2030 founding members. Each member has a longstanding history and experience in transport and logistics and is contributing significantly to the consortium’s shared vision to demonstrate how eHGVs can replace conventional HGVs at scale using British technology.

“The bringing together of so much operational and technical experience within the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium offers a unique opportunity to decarbonise the road freight transport sector in the coming months and years. We look forward to sharing many specific examples as the programme advances.”

Over a multi-year demonstration, the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium is introducing 100 of the latest HGV tractor units and 32 new charging locations. In addition to the consortium fleets, eFREIGHT 2030 aims to reach out to the wider industry and has reserved a number of vehicles for shorter term use by associate members of the consortium. This will enable smaller operators to evaluate the capabilities of electric trucks on a short-term basis along with appropriate interim charging solutions, derisking confidence building activities before making decisions about permanent fleet replacement. 

Berkeley Coachworks Ltd is announced as a supplier to the consortium, demonstrating eFREIGHT 2030’s commitment to championing British innovation and technology in delivering zero emission HGVs. By providing a trailer-located energy source, their Bulldog range extender e-trailer technology addresses another challenge for the transport sector, and Berkeley’s plans include the first known use of British-built battery cells in the HGV supply chain.

By undertaking a genuine, real-world evaluation of the technical and commercial viability of electric trucks, eFREIGHT 2030 aims to prove the business cases for eHGVs and a publicly accessible network of 1MW eHGV charging hubs across the country.  A key part of this will be to stretch boundaries by focusing on demanding use cases, including long-range, multi-shift and power take-off, using Dynamon’s Zero software modelling to match the developing technologies to the operational challenges.   

Transparency and communication are central pillars and objectives for the consortium, with regular publicly announced updates scheduled throughout the project. 

Commenting on progress to date, Michael Boxwell, Group CEO of Voltempo, which heads up the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, said, “I am delighted to report that we are on target for our very ambitious decarbonisation targets – we have placed the first vehicle orders for consortium members across the three vehicle manufacturers, the development of the Voltempo Hypercharger Pod continues at pace, and we have undertaken energy assessments for multiple sites to build a roadmap for the roll-out of the eFREIGHT 2030 charging locations. 

As an industry, the progress we are making is remarkable, and it is clear that working collaboratively will be key to accelerate our journey to zero emission HGVs.” 

Work on the eFREIGHT 2030 project will begin in early 2024 and take seven years to complete.