A brake control device is provided for a vehicle having an activation device, with the aid of which, at least under consideration of at least one brake demand signal provided by an on-board sensor and/or control device, at least one first control signal may be output to at least one electric drive motor of the vehicle, with which the at least one electric drive motor is controllable into a motor mode, in which a generator braking torque which is unequal to zero may be exerted on at least one wheel of the vehicle by the at least one electric drive motor, the at least one electric drive motor being controllable with the aid of the at least one first control signal into at least one overload operating mode as the motor mode, in which the generator braking torque which is unequal to zero may be exerted on the at least one wheel. A method is also provided for operating at least one electric drive motor for a vehicle.