Launched onto UK roads for the first time in October, The Welch Group’s 100% electric HGV supported the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) this week, 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 an incredible 20 years.
Aaron Makinson, Warehouse and Storage Manager for British Antarctic Survey, explains, ‘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, UK Assistant Project Manager for BAS, adds, ‘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.’
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.
Recently recognised as one of the Top 5 Motor Transport Decarbonisation Power Players of 2024 by Freight Carbon Zero, Chris Welch, Group MD, 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 says, ‘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.’
