RE: Which ESCs keep brake on indefinitely ?
I just found a Turnigy 25A "Basic" ESC, cost $ 11 I think. I installed it in the Phoenix. Anyway, it provides permanent braking action. My problem with the one that came with the Phoenix is that it has no name or markings and would not respond to programming "throttle stick" instructions for Turnigy, Electrify or Thunderbird. I am going to wildly speculate that 'all' ESCs short the motor coils indefinitely when receiving a low throttle signal from the transmitter. With the transmitter off there is no braking. I don'y think it is using much power for braking, however I hope to hear from someone that is sure.
The Prius uses back EMF to recapture the braking energy but our brushless ESCs can only brake, not regeneration.