DHL adds to green fleet with new electric delivery vans in U.S.

DHL announced today that it will introduce a new fleet of electric delivery vans to the U.S. market this year.

The global logistics company says it will add 63 new electric cargo delivery vans to its fleet in 2019, with the first 30 vans going to the San Francisco Bay Area.

DHL’s vans will be NGEN-1000 models made by Workhorse. The Ohio-based electric vehicle maker started production of its NGEN-1000 electric van last year.

The NGEN-1000 has a range of up to 100 miles (160 km) on a single charge. It will come in four cargo sizes, but DHL will be using the largest model, which offers 1,008 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The van also has “ultra-low” floors to help ease physical stress and fatigue. Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S. said:

“This year alone, nearly 30 percent of our new vehicles will be alternative fuel. We’re excited about the technologies that continue to emerge in this area and how they are benefiting the logistics industry.”

DHL announced production of its electric StreetScooter WORK XL delivery vehicles with Ford last year for use in European markets.

The company has committed to operating 70 percent of first- and last-mile delivery services with clean transport modes by 2025. DHL aims for a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.