Just weeks after its launch onto UK roads, Welch Group’s 42-tonne Renault E-Tech truck has been transporting equipment for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) team, providing them with a net zero transport solution.

Welch’s specialist movements team has been taking BAS’s equipment from the Madingley Road area of Cambridge to Harwich and nationwide for their world-renowned environmental polar research expeditions to the Antarctic for 20 years.

Aaron Makinson, warehouse and storage manager for the British Antarctic Survey, explained: “BAS has worked with Welch’s for many years to support our logistics operations. We are excited to collaborate with a haulier that is making significant strides towards sustainability.

“At the British Antarctic Survey we ship a whole range of goods to support science research in Antarctica. This ranges from heavy plant equipment and machinery such as Pisten Bulleys, wheel loaders and the spares we need to run them, all the way through to the necessities for living on-station, such as toilet roll, toothpaste and bedding.”

Joshua Welsh, BAS UK assistant project manager, added: “This year, Welch’s new electric vehicle with allocated driver Liam Ely helped us complete the deliveries.

“We also deployed LoadHogg lids to help reduce the carbon output of the project further. These are re-usable lids that have inbuilt ratchet straps to secure the boxed specimens and are a further contribution to our commitment to net zero.”

As part of the UK government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme, Welch’s brand-new eHGV marks a significant milestone in the decarbonisation of road freight transport. 

The 42-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech T 4x2 was delivered to the Cambridgeshire-based freight, haulage and logistics business in October, where it will operate out of their flagship site in Duxford on regional distribution and long-haul deliveries.

Welch’s Transport and Renault Trucks are among the 14 founding members of the eFreight 2030 consortium, part of the Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme which is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

It 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. 

Recently recognised as one of the Top Five Motor Transport Decarbonisation Power Players of 2024 by Freight Carbon Zero, Chris Welch, group managing director has been growing Welch’s net zero services since 2023.

“I’m proud to be able to offer all our clients green logistics options for their transport solutions,” he said: “Providing the British Antarctic Survey with the right transport solution for their net zero targets makes me very happy.

“Listening to and meeting the needs of our clients’ own ambitions has been at the heart of our service since Welch’s Transport started operations 90 years ago. We understand that getting our industry net-zero ready is essential now.

“It’s quite a privilege to be able to help an organisation like BAS, who exist to research how our planet can be more sustainable. Their polar expeditions aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough are legendary – but we strongly feel we can all contribute to green solutions in practical ways.’