If you cross paths with Jim Reilly on Whidbey Island, Washington, you’ll likely find him sporting a camo hat, riding or talking about his most recent DIY project, or planning his next camping adventure. He’s an electrical engineer with GM Defense, where he works on ruggedized batteries and an advanced tactical diesel-electric hybrid being developed for the military to serve as a mobile energy and mission systems hub on the modern battlefield. His wife is a law enforcement officer working for the Navy, managing a hardworking K9 police dog.
In short, Jim is not your stereotypical, city-dwelling EV nerd. He is a capable, hands-on guy who believes in common sense. He’s also one of the most passionate EV advocates you’ll ever meet. So much so, in fact, that it drives his wife a little nuts.
Product Tester Meets Hummer
Jim didn't get into EVs to save the planet; he became an advocate because he appreciates a machine that gets the job done without draining his wallet. It all began during an earlier role at GM, where he occasionally performed product evaluations. His EV journey started when he brought home a beast of a machine: a massive Hummer EV.
He quickly found that his favorite part of driving an electric vehicle is the instant acceleration. “There is nothing quite like watching a multi-ton truck move with the agility of a sports car,” he says.
Jim and his wife now drive a 2025 GMC Sierra EV. They love to hook up their 19-foot, 4,500-pound quasi-offroad travel trailer, pack up their three dogs, and head out into the great outdoors. Most small electric SUVs can’t haul a travel trailer through the Pacific Northwest, so when it came time to replace his 2018 gas-powered Silverado, Jim set his sights on a truck with a big battery. Everyone warned him about towing range, but he has found that even when pulling their 2.25-ton trailer, they still get about 320 miles of range. Having experienced the Sierra’s comfort, fuel savings, convenience, and towing power, Jim says that he doesn’t plan to ever own a gas car again.
The Allure of "Energy Dominance"
What turned Jim into an EV evangelist more than anything else was the pure, unadulterated American ideal of self-reliance. Like most truck owners, Jim hated watching his hard-earned money vanish into the global fuel market. Filling up his gas-powered Silverado with its 24-gallon tank was costing between $126 and $135. So, Jim did the math and decided to build his own fueling infrastructure. He self-installed a $15,000 solar and battery system on his roof, and from that point on, he has basically been driving for free.
When Jim shared his story online, folks argued that he needed to factor in the cost of the solar hardware to calculate his all-in fuel cost, so Jim did some more math. Over the 253,000 kWh warranted lifespan of his panels, he figures that he has locked in an electricity rate of roughly $0.06 per kWh for the next quarter-century.
To illustrate how those numbers stack up for a 425-mile drive:
Gas-powered Silverado: Refueling the 24-gallon tank at a Whidbey Island gas station ($5.25/gallon) costs $126.00.
Sierra EV: Replenishing the massive ~200 kWh battery using his rooftop solar infrastructure costs just $12.00.
The verdict: Jim saves $114.00—a staggering 90% reduction in fueling costs—every single time he charges his truck at home instead of pulling up to a gas pump.
Jim calls this “energy dominance.” Instead of paying a weekly "subscription" to OPEC and watching his budget fluctuate with the news about global conflicts, he owns the refinery and the delivery system right on his own roof. While the rest of the world reacts to oil price volatility, Jim’s fuel costs are a flat, predictable line. As an added bonus, his home backup battery system combined with his truck’s outboard power capability means that when winter storms roll through the Puget Sound region, his lights stay on, his freezer stays cold, and his household stays safe.
Spreading the Word
Jim’s enthusiasm is infectious. He already convinced his parents to get a Blazer EV, and two of his buddies in North Carolina have also made the jump to electric.
When people ask him what he misses about his old gas trucks, his answer is simple: "Really, nothing." His wife still keeps a Grand Cherokee for her personal use, but it now gets driven less than 500 miles a year because she also has a company car, and the couple prefers taking the electric truck everywhere they go.
Jim is helping normal, everyday drivers move past traditional concerns about battery life, range, and durability. He also exemplifies the fact that you don't have to change who you are and what you enjoy if you want to drive an EV. You just have to appreciate your independence and enjoy keeping more money in your own pocket.