Could drums make a comeback on EVs?

[un.official]

I came across an interesting bit of reading the other day about how regenerative braking and one pedal driving are changing the way brakes wear on EVs. Since the friction brakes get used less often, some fleet testers have noticed front calipers starting to rust and even warp just from lack of use.
That's led to some talk about drum brakes possibly making a return, at least on non sporty EVs. The idea is that if you fully seal them against water and design them with better cooling to handle fade, drums could actually end up being more reliable in this new driving environment. Continental has apparently been experimenting with sealed front drum setups for EVs, which I never thought I'd hear in 2025.
It's funny how the tech cycle turns, for years drums were outdated, and now they might be back on the table because of the way EVs drive.

 

[Seer_Leknaat]

Heard the chatter too... Continental's sealed drum brakes, like what VW's ID.3/ID.4 uses on the rear, make total sense in EVs. Regen does most of the braking, so discs don't get used much and veer into rust city. Drums? Sealed, low maintenance, and zero drag. Kind of brilliant.

 

[bingbong11l]

Since EVs use one-pedal driving and regenerative braking, their regular brakes get a break. This means less wear and tear, longer time between services. But watch out for rust, especially on those front brakes that don't get used much.

 

[DMick]

Drum brakes was taken inconsideration but they couldn't find a manufacturer that still produces them in United States in large quantities