2018.5 OPEL AMPERA E parking brake

148Driving and operatingDriving and
operatingDriving hints ............................... 148
Driving economically ...............148
Control of the vehicle ...............149
Starting and operating ...............149
New vehicle running-in ............149
Power button ........................... 149
Retained power off ..................151
Starting and stopping the vehicle .................................... 151
Parking .................................... 152
Electric vehicle operation modes ........................................ 154
Operation ................................. 154
Drive modes ............................ 154
Electric drive unit .......................154
Operation ................................. 154
Brakes ........................................ 158
Antilock brake system .............158
Parking brake .......................... 159
Regenerative braking ..............161
Ride control systems .................162
Traction Control system ..........162
Electronic Stability Control ......163Driver assistance systems .........164
Cruise control .......................... 164
Speed limiter ........................... 166
Forward collision alert .............167
Following distance indication ...169
Active emergency braking .......170
Front pedestrian protection .....172
Parking assist .......................... 174
Side blind zone assistant .........182
Lane change alert ....................183
Panoramic view system ...........184
Rear view camera ...................186
Rear cross traffic alert .............188
Traffic sign assistant ................189
Lane keep assist .....................191
Charging .................................... 194
Programmable charging ..........197
Programmed charging override .................................. 204
Charging status .......................204
Charge cord ............................. 205
Electrical requirements ............209
Towing ....................................... 209
General information .................209Driving hints
Driving economically The following advice is intended to
help maximise energy efficiency and
range.
In colder temperatures, while these
efficiency tips will help, the electric
vehicle's driving range may be lower
due to higher energy usage.
The weight of additional cargo in the
vehicle affects efficiency and range.
Avoid carrying more than is needed.
Avoid unnecessary use of electrical
accessories. Power used for
functions other than propelling the
vehicle will reduce electric vehicle
range.
Always keep the tyres properly
inflated and the vehicle properly
aligned.
Driving style
Avoid unnecessary rapid
accelerations and decelerations.
Use cruise control when appropriate.

152Driving and operatingThe instrument cluster also displays
an active battery gauge when the
vehicle is ready to be driven.
A chime will sound if the driver's door is opened while the vehicle is
switched on. Always press
POWER m to switch off the vehicle
before exiting the vehicle.
If the vehicle will not start due to a low electronic key battery, the vehicle can
still be driven.
Operation in case of failure 3 149.
RestartingCaution
If the vehicle must be restarted
while it is still moving, move the
selector lever into N and press
POWER m twice without
depressing the brake pedal. The
propulsion system will not restart
in any other way.
Emergency shut off during driving
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes
repeatedly. This may reduce
power assist, requiring increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the selector lever into N. This
can be done while the vehicle is
moving. After shifting into N, firmly
apply the brakes and steer the
vehicle to a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift into P, and switch off the vehicle
by pressing POWERm.
4. Apply the parking brake. If the vehicle cannot be pulled
over and must be shut off while
driving, press and hold
POWER m for more than
2 seconds, or press twice briefly
within 5 seconds.9 Danger
Switching off the vehicle while
moving may disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
propulsion system off in an
emergency.
Starting the vehicle at low
temperatures
It is recommended to plug in the vehicle when exterior temperatures
are below 0 °C to maximise high
voltage battery life.
Should the exterior temperature be
lower than -32 °C, the vehicle must be
plugged in when the vehicle is
switched on.
Parking Note
Do not allow the vehicle to remain in
extreme temperatures for long
periods without being driven or
being plugged in.

Driving and operating1539Warning
● Always apply parking brake.
Pull switch m for approx.
1 second and check if the
control indicator m illuminates.
The electric parking brake is applied when control indicator
m illuminates 3 79.
● Switch off the vehicle.
● If the vehicle is on a level surface or uphill slope, apply
the parking brake and set the
selector lever to P before
switching off the vehicle. On an uphill slope, turn the front
wheels away from the kerb.
If the vehicle is on a downhill
slope, apply the parking brake
and set the selector lever to P
before switching off the vehicle.
Turn the front wheels towards
the kerb.
With the selector lever in P,
press POWER m briefly to
switch off the vehicle. Turn the
steering wheel until the
steering wheel lock engages.
● Close the windows.
● Lock the vehicle.
● Activate the anti-theft alarm system.
● The engine cooling fans may run
after the vehicle has been
switched off 3 212.
It is not recommended to park with the propulsion system running.
If the vehicle is left with the propulsion
system running, follow the proper
steps to be sure the vehicle will not move.
Post-crash label
The post-crash label is located in the
driver's door frame.
After an accident, park the vehicle
with a sufficient distance of
approx. 7.5 m to other objects.
Park on a non-flammable surface.
Call the hotline number given on the
label to get further instructions on how to handle the vehicle.

Driving and operating155The selector lever always starts from
a centre position. The selected gear
is indicated by a yellow LED on the
selector lever. After releasing the
selector lever, it will return to the centre position.
P : This position locks the front
wheels. It is the recommended
position when starting the propulsion system because the vehicle cannot
move easily.9 Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the selector lever is not fully in P with the parking brake
firmly applied. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the propulsion system is running, the
vehicle may move suddenly. You
or others can be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move,
even if you are on even ground,
always apply the parking brake
and move the selector lever to P.
The release button is designed to
prevent inadvertent shifting out of P
unless the vehicle has been started,
the brake pedal is depressed, and the release button is pressed.
When the vehicle is stopped, press
POWER m to switch off the vehicle.
The electric drive unit will shift to P
automatically.
The vehicle will not shift into P if it is
moving too fast. Stop the vehicle and
shift into P.
To shift into P, press the P button on
the selector lever.
To shift out of P:
1. Depress the brake pedal and press the release button.
2. Shift into the desired gear.
R : Use this gear to reverse.
If the vehicle is shifted from either R
to D, or D to R while the speed is too
high, the vehicle will shift
automatically to N. Stop the vehicle
and shift again.
To shift into and out of R:
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. To shift into R, press the release
button and move the selector
lever forward, and then to the left. R is illuminated in red.
To shift out of R, shift into the
desired gear.Caution
Shifting into R while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the electric drive unit. Only shift intoR after the vehicle has been
stopped.

Driving and operating157One-pedal drivingCaution
When the vehicle is operated in L
and the driver unfastens his seat
belt, the electric parking brake is
automatically applied and one
pedal driving is not possible.
With one-pedal driving, the
accelerator pedal can be used to
control the deceleration of the vehicle
down to a complete stop.
Quick releasing of the accelerator
pedal will result in aggressive
deceleration. Slow releasing of the
accelerator pedal will allow the
deceleration of the vehicle to be
adjusted as desired.
To use one-pedal driving, shift into L.
L is only selectable when the vehicle
is in D. Press the accelerator pedal to
achieve the desired speed. The
deceleration provided by one-pedal
driving provides full regenerative
braking and helps increase energy efficiency.
While driving on slopes, one-pedal
driving may not be able to bring the
vehicle to a complete stop or hold the
vehicle at a stop.
If the vehicle cannot stop on a slope
while using one-pedal driving, the
electric parking brake may be applied to hold the vehicle stationary.
To drive again, depress the
accelerator pedal, and the electric
parking brake will automatically
disengage.
One-pedal driving may become
disabled and the vehicle may
continue to creep forward, or if
stopped, may apply the electric
parking brake or shift to P.
This can be caused by the following: ● The driver's door is open.
● The driver's seat belt is unbuckled.
● The vehicle has remained stationary for 5 minutes.
● There is a problem with the propulsion system.Additional deceleration can be
achieved by using the regenerative braking paddle.
Regenerative braking 3 161.
Car wash mode This vehicle includes a car washmode that allows the vehicle to
remain in N (neutral) for use in
automatic car washes.
Car wash mode (vehicle off) - driver in vehicle
To place the vehicle in N with the
vehicle off and occupied:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Shift to N.
3. Turn off the vehicle and release the brake pedal.
4. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, repeat steps
1-3.
The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.

Driving and operating159ABS starts to regulate brake pressure
as soon as a wheel shows a tendency to lock. The vehicle remains
steerable, even during hard braking.
ABS control is made apparent
through a pulse in the brake pedal
and the noise of the regulation
process.
For optimum braking, keep the brake
pedal fully depressed throughout the
braking process, despite the fact that
the pedal is pulsating. Do not reduce
the pressure on the pedal.
After starting off, the system performs a self-test which may be audible.
Control indicator u 3 79.
Fault9 Warning
If there is a fault in the ABS, the
wheels may be liable to lock due
to braking that is heavier than
normal. The advantages of ABS
are no longer available. During
hard braking, the vehicle can nolonger be steered and may
swerve.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Parking brake
Electric parking brake
The electric parking brake can always
be activated, even if the vehicle is
switched off.
Do not operate electric parking brake
system too often when the vehicle is
switched off as this will discharge the 12 V vehicle battery.
In case of insufficient electric power,
the electric parking brake cannot be
applied or released.
Applying when vehicle is stationary9 Warning
Pull switch m for a minimum of
1 second until control indicator m
illuminates constantly and electric
parking brake is applied 3 79 . The
electric parking brake operates automatically with adequate force.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the electric parking brake status.
Control indicator m 3 79.
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a
complete stop.
2. Pull switch m for approx.
1 second.

160Driving and operatingThe control indicator m will flash and
then stay on once the electric parking brake is fully applied. Before leaving
the vehicle, check the control
indicator m to ensure the parking
brake is applied.
If the control indicator m flashes
continuously, then the electric parking
brake is only partially applied or there
is a problem with the electric parking
brake. A message is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre. Release
the electric parking brake and try to
apply it again. If the control indicator
m does not illuminate or keeps
flashing, seek the assistance of a
workshop.
Do not drive the vehicle if the control
indicator m is flashing 3 79.
If the electric parking brake is applied while the vehicle is moving, a chimewill sound and a message will be
displayed in the Driver Information
Centre. The vehicle will decelerate as
long as the switch is pulled.
Releasing the switch m during the
deceleration process will release the
parking brake. If the switch m ispulled until the vehicle stops moving,
the electric parking brake will remain
applied.
When the electric parking brake fault
indicator j illuminates, the electric
parking brake has detected a system
problem and is operating with
reduced functionality. To apply the
electric parking brake when j
illuminates, pull the switch m and
hold it until the control indicator m
remains on. If the control indicator j
illuminates, seek the assistance of a
workshop.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the electric parking brake in some
situations when the vehicle is not
moving. This is normal, and is done to periodically check the correct
operation of the electric parking brake
system.
If the electric parking brake fails to
apply, the rear wheels should be
blocked to prevent vehicle
movement.Releasing
1. Switch on the vehicle.
2. Keep brake pedal depressed.
3. Push switch m.
If attempting to release the electric parking brake without the brake pedal
being applied, a chime will sound and
a message will be displayed in the Driver Information Centre. The
electric parking brake is released
when m is off.
If control indicator j is illuminated, the
electric parking brake has detected a
system problem, and is operating with reduced functionality. To release the
electric parking brake when j is on,
push down the switch m and hold it
down until the control indicator j
goes off. If the control indicator
remains illuminated, seek the
assistance of a workshop.
Note
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system and
cause premature wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure that

Driving and operating161the parking brake is fully released
and the control indicator m is off
before driving.
Automatic release
The electric parking brake is
automatically released when the
vehicle is running, placed into gear
and an attempt is made to drive away.
Avoid rapid acceleration when the
electric parking brake is applied, to
reduce wear of parking brake lining.
Electric parking brake control
indicator m 3 79.
Electric parking brake fault control
indicator j3 79.
Driver Information Centre 3 82.
Regenerative braking
Some braking energy from the
moving vehicle is turned back into
electrical energy. This energy is then
stored back into the high voltage
battery system, increasing energy
efficiency.
Regenerative power may be limited
when the high voltage battery is near
full charge or cold.Regeneration on demand
Regeneration on demand allows
increased deceleration by pressing
and holding the steering wheel
paddle. It works in D (Drive) and L
(Low). The accelerator pedal must be mostly released for it to work.
If regenerative braking is active, the regenerative active icon with arrowsis shown as green.
Regenerative braking 3 76.
Cruise control will switch off and the
brake lights may come on when this
feature is activated.
If the vehicle is in D (Drive) and is
brought to a complete stop while the regenerative braking paddle is held,
the vehicle will not creep forward
when the paddle is released. The
accelerator pedal must be pressed to
move the vehicle forward.
One-pedal driving 3 154.
If the vehicle is on a steep gradient,
the brake pedal will be required to
hold the vehicle.
The brake controller applies the
hydraulic brakes using a pump. You
may hear the pump during some
braking manoeuvres, such as rapid
brake application or during
regenerative braking as the vehicle
comes to a stop. This is normal
operation.
Hill Top ReserveHill Top Reserve enables you to
maximise regenerative braking
efficiency when driving from a higher
elevation immediately after charging.
When switched on, this feature will
stop the charging process before the