DHL Express will add 63 battery-electric cargo vans to its U.S. delivery fleet starting this year in the San Francisco area, as it seeks to reduce emissions by boosting the number of alternative fuel vehicles, the company has announced.

The first 30 vehicles, which will arrive in San Francisco around April, will be build on the Workhorse Group's NGEN-1000 battery-electric chassis for last-mile delivery and work trucks. The vehicles will provide an effective range of 100 miles. They will provide 1,008 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

DHL also plans to add other alternative-fuel vehicles powered by compressed natural gas and clean diesel. The fleet will also add gasoline-electric hybrids.

"Throughout the United States, DHL has proactively sought opportunities in select markets where we can implement AFV fleets that will help us reach our clean transport goals while continuing to provide a superior service experience," said Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S. "This year alone, nearly 30 percent of our new vehicles will be alternative fuel.

In March 2017, DHL parent Deutsche Post DHL Group announced a committment to reduce its logistics-related emissions to net zero by 2050. It set four milestones to meet by 2025, including increasing carbon efficiency by 50% from 2007; operate 70% of its own fleet; generate 50% of sales from products and services that incorporate green solutions; and train and certify 80% of its employees as GoGreen specialists.