METHOD OF IMPLEMENTING ENGINE BRAKING USING A VIRTUAL GEAR SHIFT SYSTEM OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

A method of implementing engine braking using a virtual gear shift (VGS) system of an electric vehicle (EV), which is connected with a VGS mode torque profile map, performs power-off down shift control by turning a VGS function on in response to an accelerator position scope (APS) off signal and a paddle shift signal. The method performs shift progress using a gear shift feeling torque compensating for a torque difference between a target gear shift stage and a current gear shift stage of the VGS. The method also controls vehicle deceleration to allow an amount of regenerative braking to increase using a target coasting torque as a gear is shifted to a lower gear shift stage to implement an engine braking feeling due to an increase in a deceleration feeling after the gear is shift.