2018.5 OPEL AMPERA E brakes

14In briefElectric drive unitP:ParkR:ReverseN:NeutralD:DriveL:Low
The selector lever can only be movedout of P when the vehicle is on, the
brake pedal is depressed, and then
the release button is pressed.
Electric drive unit 3 154.
Starting off
Check before starting off ● Tyre pressure 3 232 and
condition 3 254.
● Fluid levels 3 214.
● All windows, mirrors, exterior lighting and number plates are
free from dirt, snow and ice and
are operational.
● Proper position of mirrors 3 32,
seats 3 38, and seat belts
3 43.
● Brake function at low speed, particularly if the brakes are wet.
Starting the vehicle ● Depress brake pedal and press POWER m. When the vehicle
ready light 4 illuminates in the
instrument cluster, the vehicle is
ready to be driven.
● Move the steering wheel slightly to release the steering wheel
lock.
● Do not operate accelerator pedal.Starting and stopping the vehicle
3 151.

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.

156Driving and operatingAt low vehicle speeds, R can be used
to rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the electric drive unit.
N : In this position, the propulsion
system does not transfer torque to the
wheels. To restart the propulsion
system when the vehicle is already
moving, use D only.
The vehicle is not designed to stay in N for extended periods of time. It will
automatically shift into P.
To shift into and out of N:
● To shift into N, move the selector
lever forward until N is illuminated
in red.
● If the vehicle is in P, press the
release button while pressing the selector lever forward until N is
illuminated in red.
To shift out of N, bring the vehicle
to a complete stop and shift into the desired gear.D : This position is for normal driving.
If more power is needed for passing,
and the vehicle speed is:
● less than 56 km/h, push the accelerator pedal about halfway
down.
● about 56 km/h or more, push the accelerator pedal all the way
down.Caution
If the vehicle seems to accelerate
slowly or not respond when you try to go faster, do not continue your
journey. The electric drive unit
could be damaged. Consult a
workshop as soon as possible.
Note
In slippery conditions, operate the
vehicle in D for enhanced riding and
handling performance.
To shift into and out of D:
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. To shift into D, move the selector
lever back. If the vehicle is in P,
press the release button while
pressing the selector lever back.
D is illuminated in red.
To shift out of D, shift to the
desired gear.
When stopping on a steep hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
When shifting into P on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle. Then shift
into P.
L : This position reduces vehicle
speed without using the brakes. Use
L on very steep hills, in deep snow, in
mud or in stop-and-go traffic.Caution
Spinning the tyres or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may
damage the electric drive unit. If you are stuck, do not spin the
tyres. When stopping on a hill, use
the brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.

158Driving and operatingCar wash mode (vehicle off) - driver
out of vehicle
To place the vehicle in N with the
vehicle off and unoccupied:
1. Apply the brake pedal.2. Open the door.
3. Shift to N.
4. Turn off the vehicle and release the brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, repeat steps
1-4.
6. Exit the vehicle and close the door.
The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.
Car wash mode (vehicle on) - driver
in vehicle
To place the vehicle in N with the
vehicle on and occupied:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Shift to N.
3. Release the brake pedal.
The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.Car wash mode (vehicle on) - driver
out of vehicle
To place the vehicle in N with the
vehicle on and unoccupied:
1. Apply the brake pedal.2. Open the door.
3. Shift to N.
4. Release the brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, repeat steps
1-4.
6. Exit the vehicle and close the door.
The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.
The vehicle may have
automatically shifted to P upon re-
entry.Brakes
The brake system comprises two
independent brake circuits.
If a brake circuit fails, the vehicle can
still be braked using the other brake
circuit. However, braking effect is
achieved only when the brake pedal
is depressed firmly. Considerably
more force is needed for this. The
braking distance is extended. Seek the assistance of a workshop before
continuing the journey.
When the vehicle is switched off, the
support of the brake servo unit
disappears once the brake pedal has been depressed once or twice.
Braking effect is not reduced, but
braking requires significantly greater
force. It is especially important to bear this in mind when being towed.
Control indicator R 3 79.
Antilock brake system
Antilock brake system (ABS)
prevents the wheels from locking.

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

Driving and operating165With the Traction Control system or
Electronic Stability Control, the
system may limit wheel spin while
using cruise control. If this happens,
the cruise control will automatically
disengage.
Traction Control system 3 162.
Electronic Stability Control 3 163.
If a collision alert occurs when cruise
control is activated, cruise control is
disengaged.
Forward collision alert 3 167.
Do not use the cruise control if it is not
advisable to maintain a constant
speed.
Switching on the system
Press m, control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates white
and cruise control is on standby.
Press m again to deactivate cruise
control.
Activation of the functionality Accelerate to the desired speed and
press SET/-, the current speed is
stored and maintained. The desired set speed briefly appears in the
instrument cluster. Accelerator pedal
can be released.
Vehicle speed can be increased by depressing the accelerator pedal.
When the accelerator pedal is
released, the previously stored speed
is resumed.
Control indicator m 3 81.
Increase speed
With cruise control active, press
RES/+ until the desired speed is
reached or press RES/+ repeatedly:
speed is increased in small
increments.
Reduce speed
With cruise control active, press SET/- until the desired speed is
reached or press SET/- repeatedly:
speed is decreased in small
increments.
Resume speedIf the cruise control is set at a desired speed and then the brakes are
applied, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory. Once the
vehicle speed is approx. 25 km/h or
higher, press RES/+. The vehicle returns to the previously set speed.
Deactivation of the functionality
Press y, control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates white.

Driving and operating169
DeactivationThe system can be deactivated in the
personalisation menu 3 91.
The forward collision alert will be activated again with the last selected
alert sensitivity when the vehicle is
switched on next time.
General information
9 Warning
Forward collision alert is just a
warning system and does not
apply the brakes. When
approaching a vehicle ahead too
rapidly, it may not provide you
enough time to avoid a collision.
The driver accepts full
responsibility for the appropriate
following distance based on traffic, weather and visibility conditions.
The complete attention of the
driver is always required while
driving. The driver must always be
ready to take action and apply the
brakes.
System limitations
Forward collision alert is designed to warn about vehicles only, but may
react also to other objects.
In the following cases, forward
collision alert may not detect a vehicle ahead or sensor performance is
limited:
● on winding roads
● when weather limits visibility, such as fog, rain, or snow
● when the sensor is blocked by snow, ice, slush, mud, dirt,
windscreen damage or affected
by foreign items, e.g. stickers
Following distance
indication
The following distance indication
displays the distance in seconds to a
preceding moving vehicle. The front
camera in the windscreen is used to
detect the distance of a vehicle
directly ahead in the vehicle's path. It
is active at speeds above 8 km/h.
When a preceding vehicle is detected
ahead, the distance is indicated in
seconds, displayed on a page in the
Driver Information Centre.
Select Information menu via steering
wheel buttons and press G to select
following distance indication 3 82.
The minimum indicated distance is
0.5 seconds.
If there is no vehicle ahead or the vehicle ahead is out of range, two
dashes will be displayed: -.- sec.