Electric vehicle guru David Watts has joined Volkswagen Financial Services Fleet to help UK fleets transition to EVs.

David Watts, fleet product manager for electric vehicles at VWFS Fleet

He brings nearly 27 years in the fleet industry, and 17 years of experience developing fleet sustainability and electrification strategies to support businesses’ carbon reduction objectives.

His background also includes work to develop the ‘Plugged-in Fleets Initiative’ back in 2012 at the Energy Saving Trust, providing a blueprint for today’s EV transition well before the current generation of vehicles and charging infrastructure was in place.

Watts is also an original member of the EV Committee for the Association of Fleet Professionals and specialises in helping fleets navigate the challenges they face in order to successfully make the transition to electric.

As fleet product manager for electric vehicles at VWFS Fleet, he will offer fleets of all sizes guidance on their transitions ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans.

Watts said: “I’m looking forward to bringing my expertise to VWFS Fleet customers. Each business is at a different point in its EV transition and will face different challenges based on its fleet composition. From encouraging driver adoption to providing expert consultancy on charging infrastructure, I’m here to help businesses tackle the EV transition difficulties.

“I’m passionate about making sure we tackle the key issues that fleets will face in the coming years, such as navigating charging reimbursement policies to ensure drivers using a home, public or workplace charging networks are fairly reimbursed. With steadily increasing numbers of EV drivers, particularly those who cannot charge up at home, this will only become more of an issue as other financial benefits of owning an EV such as reduced Benefit-in-Kind and car tax are removed.”