zlacker

First, you can: many electrics have a regenerative braking mode that you can engage that will provide some amount of "engine braking"-equivalent slowing down. And on some of them you can select how much slowing is applied. It's very similar to manually selecting a gear.

Second, huh? How does engine braking reduce tire wear at the same speeds? Brakes do not contact the tire. It reduces brake wear...

Gentle braking reduces tire wear but that's possible with either mode.

>>dgacmu+(OP)
Absolutely not the same thing.

> Brakes do not contact the tire. It reduces brake wear...

When braking you are basically limiting the tyre's rotation leveraging the tyre's stickiness to slow you down, and ultimately wearing it down. This is why where there is no abrasive surface under your car, i.e. snow, stopping down is harder. Or just accelerate to 100Kmh and then stomp on your brakes, then notice how they are all worn out where they contact the ground.

>>thefz+BQ1
Engine braking does the same thing. It just applies resistance by using the engine instead of by using the brakes. Whether the slowing force is transmitted by the axle or the brakes is irrelevant to tire wear.