Background

WEGO provide a range of courier services and deliveries in many UK Cities.  They have a genuine passion for helping the environment by improving air quality and reducing harmful traffic emissions in our city centres. They use ultra-low emission vehicles, including electric vehicles and cargo bikes, as well as high-speed trains, in partnership with InterCity RailFreight, between key cities to provide same day and next day deliveries that are faster and greener than existing road-based couriers.

The company was established in 1998 and has a headquarters in Nottingham. WEGO have a long history of collaborating with the University of Nottingham. They have been using commercial electric vehicles since 2003 and recently donated a used electric vehicle to the University for research. University support has enable them to switch to newer electric vehicles with a longer driving range.

Find out more about WEGO

WEGO's BMW i3 extended range vehicle outside the RAD Building, home to the Energy Innovation and Collaboration team

 

Opportunity

Energy for Business is a low-carbon project funded by the European Union and delivered by the Energy Innovation and Collaboration team at the University of Nottingham. Support including consultancy and a capital grant is available for businesses in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. WEGO’s Company Director Chris Beattie asked for support from Energy for Business when a new medical supply contract saw deliveries expand to include Bristol, Swansea and Cardiff.  The daily collection rounds in these areas are outside of the normal range of the existing electric vehicle fleet of 20kw Nissan eNV200 electric vans currently used by WEGO.

Solution

By working with Energy for Business, WEGO were able to submit an application for a capital grant from a fund available for low-carbon and energy saving projects. The grant application was successful and resulted in the purchase of a BMW i3 extended range electric vehicle. This has supported a business plan that includes clean growth and expansion to service more cities in the UK.

Benefits

WEGO have been able to increase the number of deliveries that use an electric vehicle and decrease the use of the diesel van traditionally used to carry heavier loads over longer distances.  This has also helped in bids for medical delivery work due to the added benefit of zero emissions vehicles on the environment and health. They envisage that this new investment will result in the employment of one additional full-time driver and will support the ongoing employment of around 25 staff.

Having the ability to use a longer-range electric vehicle will also improve operation efficiency and energy use and costs, as drivers will have to rely less on opportunity charging through their working day. Supporting an overnight charging routine will assist in balancing out the demand of electricity on the national grid as charging will take place during the night and not during peak demand hours during the day.

An additional benefit is that WEGO can demonstrate to existing customers that they are leading the way in decarbonising delivery services, giving a positive message to a wide audience on the benefits of using electric vehicles as opposed to vehicles with internal combustion engines.  

WEGO director Chris Beattie explains, "We are very excited with this development and the support that the University of Nottingham has provided through Energy for Business.  Our bio-hazard trained couriers are now covering more medical work and supporting the expansion of the Bio FastTrack service with InterCity RailFreight (ICRF).  Since our involvement with Energy for Business we have taken on two full-time members of staff and together with ICRF have recorded an estimated combined saving of 20,000 kg carbon and 115 kg nitrous oxide (based on 2018 Defra conversion figures).  These savings will only increase as we grow and expand our zero-emission delivery network in the UK."

Support

WEGO received support from the University as part of Energy for Business. Delivered by the Energy Innovation and Collaboration team and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Contact the Energy Innovation and Collaboration team for an informal chat about the support on offer.

Email: energy@nottingham.ac.uk
Website: www.nottingham.ac.uk/energyforbusiness
Phone: +44 (0) 115 7484969