Low emission engine braking for vehicles

A method for utilizing engine braking to decelerate a vehicle including initiating a preheat in an electrically heated catalyst (EHC). Subsequent to initiating the preheat, the method allows an internal combustion engine (ICE) to spin by one of: engaging a clutch, converting rotation of the ICE to electrical energy, and storing the electrical energy in a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), and spinning the ICE using electric energy from the RESS, generating regenerative braking energy, and storing the regenerative braking energy in the RESS.