GMC One-Pedal Driving and Regen on Demand Explained

On the GMC Sierra EV and Hummer EV, One-Pedal Driving lets the accelerator pedal slow the truck all the way to a complete stop when you lift off, and it is switched between Off, a moderate level and High from the center display. Regen on Demand is a separate paddle on the back of the steering wheel that adds deceleration for as long as you hold it. Both rely on regenerative braking, both are limited when the battery is nearly full or cold, and neither replaces the brake pedal in an emergency stop.

How Regenerative Braking Works on a GMC EV

GM's owner's manuals describe regenerative braking as taking some of the energy from the moving vehicle and turning it back into electrical energy, which is stored in the high voltage battery. The drive motors do the slowing, so the pads and rotors sit out that part of the stop.

Both the 2026 Sierra EV and 2025 Hummer EV owner's manuals state that the brake system uses regenerative braking, conventional hydraulic braking, or a combination of both as appropriate. The truck decides the mix, not the driver. For the hydraulic side of that picture, see how GMC brake systems work.

These trucks also use electric brake boost, with electronically controlled hydraulic circuits, in place of the vacuum or hydroboost unit covered in our GMC brake booster guide.

One-Pedal Driving: What It Does

With One-Pedal Driving on, the accelerator position controls both speeding up and slowing down. According to the manuals for both trucks:

Completely releasing the accelerator produces aggressive deceleration.
Partially lifting off lets you adjust how quickly the truck slows.
The truck can decelerate to a complete stop without the brake pedal.
The brake pedal should be used if emergency braking is required.

Both manuals say the vehicle stays in One-Pedal Driving mode through off and on power cycles until the driver disables it.

How to Turn One-Pedal Driving On or Off

The menu path differs between the two trucks, so use the column that matches yours.

	2026 Sierra EV / Sierra EV Denali	2025 Hummer EV Pickup and SUV
Menu path in the owner's manual	Controls, then See More Controls, then Drive & Park, then One-Pedal Driving	Settings, then Vehicle, then One-Pedal Driving
Choices	Off, Normal, High	Off, On, High
Moderate setting	Normal: a moderate level of braking when the accelerator is released	On: a moderate level of braking when the accelerator is released
Strong setting	High: a strong level of braking when the accelerator is released	High: a strong level of braking when the accelerator is released
Works in	D (Drive)	D (Drive) and L (Low)
Shortcut	One-Pedal Driving in the Drive Mode app or the controls tray	Driver mode screen, opened by turning the driver mode knob

Sources: 2026 GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali EV owner's manual, page 200, and 2025 GMC Hummer EV owner's manual, pages 198 and 199. Menu names can change with model year and software updates, so follow the manual for your exact year if your screen differs.

Off returns the truck to traditional two-pedal driving. When you toggle the feature back on with the shortcut, it returns to the level you last selected. GMC's own One-Pedal Driving and Regen on Demand how-to describes the same steps in general terms.

Does the Truck Fully Stop and Hold?

Yes. One-Pedal Driving brings the truck to a complete stop. The manuals add that friction brakes are used to hold the vehicle after it stops, and that a noise may be noticed when they apply.

Two more behaviors from the manuals are worth knowing:

The Electric Parking Brake may apply while One-Pedal Driving is active if the driver exits the vehicle or the vehicle has remained stationary for five minutes. Pressing the accelerator releases it automatically.
GMC's support page notes that Auto Vehicle Hold is disabled when One-Pedal Driving is active.

Do the Brake Lights Come On?

They do, but not for every small lift of the pedal. Both manuals say the brake lights come on during substantial deceleration and when the vehicle is stopped.

Regen on Demand: The Steering Wheel Paddle

Regen on Demand is independent of One-Pedal Driving and can be used on its own or together with it. Per the owner's manuals:

Pressing and holding the steering wheel paddle increases deceleration. Releasing it returns the truck to normal driving.
It works in D (Drive) on the Sierra EV, and in D (Drive) and L (Low) on the Hummer EV.
The accelerator pedal can still be used to manage deceleration while the paddle is held.
If the truck is brought to a complete stop with the paddle held, it will not creep forward when the paddle is released. You have to press the accelerator to move.
On a steep grade, the brake pedal must be used to hold the vehicle.
Cruise control turns off and the brake lights may come on when the paddle is used.

The Sierra EV manual lists Regen on Demand as an if-equipped feature, so check that your trim has the paddle. GMC's support page adds that vehicles with Variable Regen on Demand let you pull the paddle closer for more aggressive deceleration. Confirm which version your truck has in the owner's manual or with a dealer using the VIN.

When Regen Is Limited

Lift-off deceleration isn't always the same. Both manuals state that regenerative power may be limited when the high voltage battery is near full charge or cold, and that this affects the vehicle's maximum regenerative braking power. The manuals cover this as Regenerative Power Limited in the Power Indicator Gauge section; that gauge also shows how much power is being regenerated at any moment.

When that happens, friction brakes may be used in One-Pedal Driving, and with the paddle the hydraulic brakes may be applied to make up the difference. GMC's support page adds that the same blending can occur when the battery is extremely hot.

This is the reason behind GM's charging advice. GMC recommends charging to 80 percent for daily use, which leaves space in the battery for regenerative braking. The owner's manuals go further with a formal warning: do not charge above 80 percent if you are going to drive down long, steep grades such as mountain passes. If the battery becomes full, regenerative braking will be limited or unavailable, the brakes have to do all the work, and they could become too hot.

Slippery Roads

Under wet-road tips and under slippery road driving, both manuals' instruction is to turn off One-Pedal Driving, and the winter driving section says to avoid using the Regen on Demand paddle. The Regen on Demand section itself says to use the brake pedal as the primary braking device in slippery conditions. For what the pedal does on a slick surface, see ABS brakes in GMC vehicles.

Towing a Trailer

Both owner's manuals call One-Pedal Driving a useful feature when towing, with a caveat: using the brake pedal may be required to slow down and hold the vehicle with large loads or on steep hills. They also confirm that the trailer brake lights are functional during substantial deceleration and when the vehicle is stopped.

On grades, the guidance changes. The Hummer EV manual and the 2026 Sierra EV trailer towing supplement both say to reduce speed before a long or steep downhill, use regenerative braking by keeping the vehicle in gear, limit the initial battery charge to 80 percent or less, and avoid using Regen on Demand. The 80 percent warning above is described as especially important when towing, because a trailer puts additional stress on the truck's braking system.

Why EV Brakes Wear Less but Still Need Service

Every stop the motors handle is a stop the pads and rotors don't. With One-Pedal Driving on, the manuals say the truck uses regenerative braking whenever possible, so in routine driving the friction brakes mostly handle the final hold, hard stops, and the times regen is limited. Neither manual publishes a pad life figure or a range gain percentage for regen, so we don't quote one; GMC's range estimates are covered in our Sierra EV Denali range article.

Less use is not the same as no maintenance. The schedule in both manuals still includes:

Item	Interval in the manual	Applies to
Tire rotation and required services, including a brake system check	Every 7,500 miles	2026 Sierra EV, 2025 Hummer EV
Brake fluid replacement	Every five years	2026 Sierra EV, 2025 Hummer EV
Brake fluid type	GM approved DOT 4	2026 Sierra EV, 2025 Hummer EV
Underbody flushing service	At least twice a year	2026 Sierra EV
New brake lining break-in	Avoid hard stops for the first 200 miles	2026 Sierra EV

The fluid interval is time-based for the same reason it is on a gas truck: the manuals state that brake fluid absorbs water over time, which degrades its effectiveness. Regen does nothing to slow that down. Rotors that are rarely worked hard also get fewer firm stops to wipe off surface rust, so the visual inspection matters even when pad wear is low. The Sierra EV manual's inspection list covers lines and hoses, pad wear and rotor surface condition, and after mud or sand GM says to have the brake linings cleaned and checked.

For the full inspection routine and salt-state care, see our GMC brake system maintenance guide. When someone does measure the pads, the GMC brake pad thickness chart shows what the numbers mean.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn on One-Pedal Driving in a GMC Sierra EV?

The 2026 Sierra EV owner's manual gives the path as Controls, then See More Controls, then Drive & Park, then One-Pedal Driving, where you choose Off, Normal or High. It can also be toggled from the Drive Mode app or the controls tray.

How do I turn off One-Pedal Driving in a GMC Hummer EV?

In the 2025 Hummer EV owner's manual, the path is Settings, then Vehicle, then One-Pedal Driving, then Off. If you switch it off while stopped, the truck stays stopped; press the brake or accelerator pedal to return to two-pedal driving.

Do the brake lights come on with One-Pedal Driving?

Yes. Both manuals say the brake lights come on during substantial deceleration and when the vehicle is stopped.

Why does my GMC EV slow down less after a full charge or on a cold morning?

Regenerative power may be limited when the high voltage battery is near full charge or cold, according to both owner's manuals. The truck can blend in the friction brakes to compensate, but lift-off deceleration may feel different, so be ready to use the brake pedal.

Should I use One-Pedal Driving in rain or snow?

GM recommends against it. The manuals say to turn off One-Pedal Driving on wet and slippery roads, avoid the Regen on Demand paddle, and use the brake pedal as the primary braking device.