I could try to sound smart and remember specifially what was described in the Volt training, but it's just easier to put it in laymens terms. Basically when you step on the brakes, the car doesn't apply the service brakes unless you are trying to stop fast, under most initial braking the drive motor becomes a generator and slows the car, hence regenerative braking. So there are times where they are certainly not confidence inspiring. The ABS system is very complicated, much more then a normal car, and I'm not going to sit here and claim to be an expert just because I've done the training once, I haven't had to work on the ABS yet. Think of the ABS module as actually absorbing your pedal pressure so regeneration can occur, this can have some effects, but push harder and your pedal pressure will still go to the brakes.
While I'm going on about the car, what I find really cool is the transmission because that's where all the magic happens. There are 2 motor/generators in the trans, these motors are not the same size, the one in front (closest to the engine) is primarily the generator, and the second (closest to the final drive) is primarily the drive motor. This is how the car spends most of it's time, and is the first of 4 drive modes. When slowing both are generators, when accelerating hard both are drive motors, and if the battery is close to being dead or there are faults the engine can be locked in to help drive the car. However if the drive motors cannot function the engine will not drive the car. The connections between the 2 motor/generators and the internal combustion engine (ICE) within the trans are the key to making it all work, basically clutches and planetary sets similar to what would be in a normal automatic.
The car has multiple control modules in addition to the typical Engine control module, and Transmission control module arrangement. Like the Hybrid Powertrain control module 1 and 2 that control different aspects of the transmission and drive motor functions, the battery energy module that monitors the battery and communcates it's condition with everything else, or the accessory DC power module which recharges the 12 volt battery and provides power to all the other modules and accessories because they still run on 12 volts.
I also find it interesting that the car utilizes 3 cooling systems, 1 for the engine, 1 for the battery, and 1 for the electronics. The cabin is heated by the 2 stage engine cooling system, when the engine doesn't run there is a bypass valve, auxilary pump, and high voltage heater that are part of that system.
Okay I'm done with my info diarrhea, any questions? Like I said earlier it's a neat car, but not like driving a normal car at all.