When you spot a Chevy Bolt EV or Tesla Model 3 on the road, especially leaving a traffic light, check the look on the driver’s face. If you’re able to keep pace, you’ll notice a smile of satisfaction known as ‘the EV Grin.’

What are EV drivers smiling about?  It’s not the gas station they just passed or the fact their car’s efficiency is triple that of a car powered by gas or diesel fuel. No, their contentment comes from the silent surge forward they experienced when the light turned green.

EVs are brilliant stepping away from a stop because their motors deliver all they’ve got without waiting for the revs (rpm) to build. In comparison, combustion engines are slow to stir.  They need a heavy stab of the throttle, what’s called a ‘torque converter,’ and transmission gears to multiply their oomph until the tach reads 2000-3000 rpm. Also, engines roar when they get down to business, drawing law enforcement attention.

Electric motors deliver peak torque—the rotating force that drives the wheels—a split second after the driver nudges the accelerator. Without commotion. And they maintain maximum output until cruising speed has been achieved without shifting gears. This inherent advantage over fuel burners is one of the EV’s most satisfying personality traits. It must be felt to be believed.

Another EV advantage is their ability to recoup energy during deceleration. Applying the brakes in any car converts unwanted momentum (excess speed) to heat. In EVs, however, most drivers seldom touch their brake pedals; instead, they simply lift off the accelerator to slow – an addicting phenomenon known as ‘one-pedal driving’.

Doing so signals the motor to temporarily operate as a generator in what’s called ‘regen’ mode. The electric current produced during the slowdown is fed straight back to the battery, extending the available driving range. It’s like pouring gas back in the tank, a feat no conventional car will ever achieve.

So, with two things to smile about, it’s no wonder that EV drivers always look like they’re en route to the bank to cash a fat check.