GM has been using electric parking brakes for about three years. The system replaces a cable that goes from an equalizing bar in the rear to a lever or foot pedal in the cabin. Electric parking brakes are used for hill holding and when the car is put into park. On manual transmission Buick Regals the EPB engages to make clutch actuation smoother.

But what happens if the battery or whole car is dead? It the car was parked with the brake on, chances are the parking brake is on, so good luck trying to push it. There is a access door in the rear passenger-side wheel well that gives you access to the motor to the brakes can be released. The only problem is if the wheel has locks and the owner can not find the key, then you might have to unhook the brake cable in the rear. This was learned the hard way.