State Attorney General Letitia James unveiled the first-ever all-electric truck program ahead of Earth Day.

Six nonprofit organizations are participating in a new project to reduce air pollution by driving electric, zero-emission delivery trucks. The attorney general's office is calling this the future of New York City's truck fleet.

"We are reminded that in order to truly protect New Yorkers, we first need to protect our planet," says James.

The all-electric trucks operate through a charging system overnight -- no fuel is needed.

Because the trucks are all-electric, they eliminate air pollution including soot, which James says is the deadliest pollutant affecting the city.

According to their research, the deadly fine soot that comes from trucks contributes to more than 2,000 premature deaths in the city every year. It is also responsible for more than 6,000 emergency room visits, as well as hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, in New York City each year.

All nine trucks will be leased for two years and funded by the attorney general's office through a $9.2 million settlement. They plan on collecting data in these two years to distinguish the benefits and also create a way for private fleet operators to adopt the eco-friendly trucks all over New York City.