First electric HGV for eFREIGHT 2030 consortium hits the roads

The eFREIGHT2030 project has announced the delivery of its first electric heavy goods vehicle as part of the government's Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme. The 42-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech T 4x2 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 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.

Future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood said: "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."  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. 

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 Welch's Tranport'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.