**China Is Tightening Regulation on One-Pedal Driving (For Good Reason)**
The concept of one-pedal driving is well known among many electric vehicle (EV) users. It enables them to release the accelerator pedal to decelerate (and at times halt) the vehicle without engaging the brake pedal. While numerous top-tier EVs still utilize two pedals, one-pedal driving serves as a method to enhance an EV’s range. This feature helps with regenerative braking, which allows an EV to transform some of the vehicle’s kinetic energy into electricity while slowing down. However, new regulations in China will impose restrictions on this feature. Starting January 1, 2027, a national GB (GuoBiao) standard will prevent manufacturers from producing one-pedal EVs with a preset function that causes the vehicle to stop completely without the driver applying the brake pedal.
Drivers will still retain the option to manually activate the feature, and additional regulations in the new standard will come into effect a year earlier. From 2026 onward, all newly sold EVs in China must be equipped with anti-lock braking systems (ABS), and EVs will also need brake lights that activate during rapid deceleration even if the driver is not depressing the brake pedal. These modifications followed research and accident evaluations indicating that some drivers had become overly reliant on using just one pedal. In various occurrences, drivers could not shift their right foot to the brake swiftly enough to halt in time. Existing EVs already on the roads will not need updates, and the brake light and ABS mandates align China’s standards with established regulations in other regions.
**Safety Issues Associated with One-Pedal Driving**
EV brake lights are now required to activate when a vehicle decelerates faster than 1.3 meters per second squared, roughly 3 mph per second. Under the new regulations, some energy will be wasted since employing brakes to stop a vehicle converts a portion of kinetic energy into friction-generated heat. The limitation on default one-pedal driving could also decrease the chances of unintended acceleration; accident investigators discovered that some drivers inadvertently pressed the accelerator, thinking their foot was on the brake, and transitioning more frequently between the two should help EV drivers become more accustomed to their vehicle’s pedal positioning.
One-pedal driving can offer greater comfort than constantly shifting between pedals, particularly in urban traffic or for individuals with nerve or muscle challenges. Utilizing a single pedal for both acceleration and deceleration may yield a smoother experience for passengers, and any practical differences in deceleration speed and stopping distance ultimately hinge more on vehicle dynamics and driver responsiveness than on technological constraints.
**Reasons for China’s Changes to EV Standards**
Certain accidents involved Tesla vehicles, prompting Chinese regulators to compel the company to recall over 1 million units in 2023. Tesla subsequently released a software update that replaced the default ‘creep’ mode with a ‘hold’ function that gradually stopped the car when the driver released the accelerator. In a different context, Consumer Reports discovered in 2023 that brake lights on some EVs from Hyundai and its sub-brands Genesis and Kia “might not light up when the vehicle was utilizing aggressive regenerative-braking settings.”
Hyundai reacted by enhancing brake lights to activate at the same deceleration rate specified by China and the EU; this change additionally brings the company’s vehicles into compliance with China’s new regulation ahead of its implementation. The requirement for ABS in EVs within China also aligns the country with global standards in this area. All vehicles sold in the U.S. have featured ABS since 2012, and cars in the European market have included it since 2004. ABS rapidly pulses the brakes to prevent the wheels from locking during abrupt stops, potentially averting skids or spins.