Welch’s Transport has opened a six-bay eHGV charging hub at its Cambridge headquarters, supporting its expanding electric truck fleet.

The installation at Duxford uses Voltempo’s HyperCharger technology, delivered through the government-backed eFREIGHT 2030 programme. It provides up to 1MW of total power, dynamically shared across the charging points.

Two full-length, drive-in, drive-out bays accommodate complete tractor and trailer combinations. Four further bays serve tractor units.

The Cambridge eHGV charging hub complements a second six-bay, 1MW installation at Welch’s Bedford depot. Together, the sites form part of the operator’s investment in electric freight infrastructure.

Charging access for other hauliers

Welch’s plans to make spare charging capacity at both locations available to approved third-party fleets through Voltempo’s DepotCharge model.

The arrangement offers other operators secure, bookable charging. It also gives Welch’s an opportunity to increase infrastructure utilisation and earn additional revenue.

Voltempo designed its British-developed HyperCharger for heavy-duty freight applications. The system distributes available power according to vehicles’ energy requirements and departure times.

Simon Smith, CEO of Voltempo, said: “This is an exciting milestone for Welch’s and eFREIGHT 2030 as we build out the UK’s largest network of megawatt-scale depot charging infrastructure, putting the high-power charging in place to support electric HGVs in real-world operations.

“The opportunity now is to make that infrastructure work as hard commercially as it does operationally. Combining high utilisation with access to competitively priced energy helps drive down charging costs and strengthens the business case for electric HGVs, and demonstrates how the investment made through eFREIGHT 2030 is having an impact far beyond the consortium itself.”

Electric fleet continues to grow

The new eHGV charging hub follows several years of investment in battery-electric trucks.

Welch’s introduced a 19-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide in 2023. In October 2024, it became the first operator to deploy an electric tractor unit through eFREIGHT 2030.

That vehicle was the first of two 42-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech T tractors supplied through the programme. A third E-Tech T and a DAF electric tractor have since joined the fleet.

Welch’s also has three 28-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech vehicles on order. The company expects electric vehicles to represent 12% of its fleet by January 2027.

The fourth-generation family business has operated for more than 90 years. Its transport, logistics and warehousing activities centre on Cambridge and Bedford.

Welch’s says it recently recorded record profits following several major contract wins. It reports that customers increasingly consider sustainability credentials when awarding work.

Chris Welch, Managing Director of Welch Group, said: “We made the decision early on that we wanted to be at the forefront of electric freight, but it has always had to make commercial sense. We’ve invested in the trucks, learned how to operate them in the real world and now have the high-power infrastructure at Cambridge and Bedford to support the next stage.

“We’re growing the business and winning significant new contracts, with our sustainability credentials increasingly important to customers. Our investment in electric freight is supporting that growth and strengthening our proposition as we compete for new business.”

Building evidence for electric freight

The Cambridge eHGV charging hub forms part of a wider demonstration of electric trucks in everyday freight operations.

Voltempo leads eFREIGHT 2030, which plans to introduce 88 electric HGVs and charging infrastructure across 36 sites. These include 25 megawatt-scale charging hubs.

The consortium brings together hauliers, truck manufacturers, energy and technology businesses, and research organisations.

Dr Harsh Pershad, Innovation Lead for Zero Emission Vehicles at Innovate UK, said: “When I visited Welch’s Duxford depot recently, I was impressed by Welch’s forward-thinking and holistic approach to sustainability.

“Today’s opening of the MegaWatt-scale charging hub developed by Welch’s and Voltempo through the ZEHID-funded eFREIGHT2030 project is an important milestone: It shows that electric HGVs and infrastructure are feasible today for mid-size hauliers. By offering to open access to charging for other businesses, Welch’s and Voltempo create the conditions to increase use of electric HGVs in Cambridgeshire. We hope this collaborative model will be replicated across the UK”.

eFREIGHT 2030 sits within the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme. The Department for Transport funds the programme, with Innovate UK supporting its delivery.

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