A vehicle brake system comprises an electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling a vehicle brake arrangement, and an electric machine operating as a motor and a generator. The ECU controls valves and the electric machine so that, when a brake pedal is actuated, hydraulic fluid is supplied to a wheel brake from a master cylinder to generate a brake pressure. After a corresponding brake pressure is attained, the supply of hydraulic fluid is disabled, wherein the brake pressure effected by the hydraulic fluid is gradually dissipated, and, correspondingly, the electric machine is operated increasingly as a generator. Upon an increase of driver braking demand, hydraulic fluid is additionally supplied from the master cylinder to the wheel brake, and with decreasing vehicle speed, the electric machine is operated decreasingly as a generator, and, correspondingly, hydraulic fluid is supplied to the wheel brake from an intermediate accumulator and/or from the master cylinder.