fuel CADILLAC ELR 2014 Owner's Guide

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Climate Controls 8-3
When in MIN mode, the AUTO
indicator light will be off. When
AUTO is selected in MIN mode, the
mode will change to either ECO
or MAX.
When in MIN mode, the air
conditioning system may turn on
automatically if the high voltage
battery is being cooled. The climate
control system could blow cold air.
This is normal. To prevent cold air
from blowing into the interior, turn off
the fan control and select the vent
mode and manual recirculation
mode, and close the air vents.
When in MIN mode, if Auto Defog is
enabled, the air conditioning and
electric heat may turn on when high
humidity conditions exist. See
“Climate and Air Quality”under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5-51 for more information on
the Auto Defog selection. The air
conditioning may also run if
0is
selected. ECO (Economy Mode):
The air
conditioning and electric heat are
controlled to balance comfort with
fuel economy. As long as
0is not
selected, the vehicle electric range
or fuel economy will decrease less
than in MAX mode, but will result in
moderate comfort.
MAX (Comfort Mode): The air
conditioning and electric heat are
controlled to reach the best comfort
level based on the temperature
setting selected. In this mode,
vehicle electric range or fuel
economy will decrease depending
on the amount of energy required to
reach the best comfort levels.
Climate Power Gauge
When the climate mode is changed,
the Climate Power gauge displays
the impact that user setting changes
have on energy consumption. The
higher the reading, the more energy
is being used. Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation in
order to heat or cool the vehicle to
the desired temperature.
When the indicator light is on or
AUTO is displayed on the touch
screen, the system is in full
automatic operation. If the air
delivery mode or fan setting is
manually adjusted, the auto
indicator turns off and the display
will show the selected settings. Auto
operation can be turned off
individually for climate settings.
For automatic operation:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow the
system time to stabilize. Then
adjust the temperature as
needed for best comfort.
To improve fuel efficiency and to
cool the vehicle faster, recirculation
may be automatically selected in
warm weather. The recirculation

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better EnergyEfficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-9
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-11
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-16
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Electric Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Extended Range Mode . . . . . . 9-22
Driver Selected OperatingModes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Out of Fuel/Engine Unavailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Maintenance Modes . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . 9-30
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 9-32
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Continuous Damping Control (CDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . 9-39
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver AssistanceSystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-2 Driving and Operating
Active Emergency BrakingSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Charging
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58
Delayed ChargingOverride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59
Charging Status Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Utility Interruption of Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Electrical Requirements for
Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . 9-66
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-66
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . 9-67
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-68
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-71
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-71
Driving Information
Driving for Better Energy
Efficiency
Use the following tips to help
maximize energy efficiency and
range.
In colder temperatures, while these
efficiency tips will help, the electric
vehicle driving range may be lower
due to higher energy usage.
Driving Style
Efficiency Gauge (Instrument
Cluster)
The leaf indicator or green ring
indicator should be kept green and
in the center of the gauge.
Inefficient acceleration is indicated
when the ring turns yellow or the
leaf turns yellow and travels above
the center of the gauge.

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-3
Aggressive braking is indicated
when the ring turns yellow or the
leaf turns yellow and travels below
the center of the gauge.
Acceleration/Braking/Coasting
Avoid unnecessary rapid
accelerations and decelerations.
Electric range is maximized at
80 km/h (50 mph) and below. Higher
speeds use more energy and can
significantly reduce electric range.
Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Plan ahead for decelerations and
coast whenever possible. For
example, do not rush to traffic
signals.
Do not shift to N (Neutral) to coast.
The vehicle recovers energy while
coasting and braking in D (Drive)
or L (Low).Drive Mode and PRNDL Selection
Use Tour Mode when possible.
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration than Tour
Mode, but can reduce efficiency.
Use Mountain Mode prior to
climbing long, steep grades in
mountainous areas. Be sure to
engage Mountain Mode before
starting to climb. Mountain Mode
reduces electric range and power,
but may be needed to maintain
speeds above 96 km/h (60 mph)
when climbing grades of 5% or
greater.
Use Hold Mode on a trip where all
or most of the electric charge will be
depleted. Use Hold Mode mainly
during highway or high-speed
driving to maximize both electric
vehicle miles and fuel efficiency.
Use L (Low) in heavy stop-and-go
traffic or when traveling downhill.
L (Low) requires less brake pedalapplication and provides a
controlled, efficient way to slow the
vehicle down.
Climate Setting
Using the heat and air conditioning
systems decreases the energy
available for electric driving.
Optimal energy efficiency is
achieved with the heat, air
conditioning, and fan turned off.
Less energy is used at low fan
speeds. When using the fan:
.MIN is the most energy efficient
climate setting as long as
0is
not selected.
.ECO is for moderate air
conditioning and heater
operation and is the next most
energy efficient setting as long
as
0is not selected.
.MAX mode provides the most
comfort but is the least energy
efficient.

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-4 Driving and Operating
Use the auto heated seat feature
instead of climate settings. Heating
the seat uses less energy than
heating the vehicle interior.
Use remote start to heat or cool the
interior when the vehicle is plugged
in to maximize the electric range by
utilizing electricity from the electrical
outlet. Engine Assisted Heating
while plugged in can be
personalized. SeeRemote Start on
page 2-8.
In hot weather, avoid parking in
direct sunlight or use sunshades
inside the vehicle.
Turn off the front and rear window
defog/defrost when they are no
longer needed.
Avoid driving with the windows open
at highway speeds.
See Vehicle Personalization on
page 5-51.Vehicle Charging/Maintenance
Charging
Keep the vehicle plugged in, even
when fully charged, to keep the
battery temperature ready for the
next drive. This is important when
outside temperatures are extremely
hot or cold.
Maintenance
Always keep the tires properly
inflated and the vehicle properly
aligned.
The weight of excess cargo in the
vehicle affects efficiency and range.
Avoid carrying more than is needed.
If fuel is not regularly used, consider
keeping the fuel tank only one-third
full. Excess fuel weight impacts
efficiency and range.
For fuel recommendations, see Fuel
on page 9-66. Avoid unnecessary use of electrical
accessories. Power used for
functions other than propelling the
vehicle will reduce electric vehicle
range.
Using a rooftop carrier will reduce
efficiency due to additional weight
and drag.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.

Black plate (15,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-15
Example 3
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 3 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant Weight
@ 91 kg (200 lbs) × 5 =
453 kg (1,000 lbs).
3.Available Cargo Weight =
0 kg (0 lbs).
Refer to the vehicle's Tire and
Loading Information label for
specific information about the
vehicle's capacity weight and seating positions. The combined
weight of the driver, passengers,
and cargo should never exceed
the vehicle's capacity weight.
Certification Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Certification
label is found on the center pillar
(B-pillar). The label shows the
gross weight capacity of the
vehicle. This is the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
and includes the weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, fuel, andcargo. Never exceed the GVWR
for the vehicle, or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for
either the front or rear axle.
Spread out heavy loads equally
on both sides of the vehicle. See
“Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit”
earlier in this
section.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-17
ON/RUN power mode. When the
vehicle is turned off, the POWER
O
button light will turn off.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the vehicle
will not start, place the RKE
transmitter in the transmitter slot.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2-2.
ON/RUN: This position is for
starting and driving. With the vehicle
off, and the brake pedal applied,
pressing the POWER
Obutton once
will place the vehicle in ON/RUN.
When the READY light is on in the
instrument cluster, the vehicle is
ready to be driven. This could take
up to 15 seconds at extremely cold
temperatures. See Vehicle Ready
Light on page 5-25. The engine will
only start if needed. If the vehicle
did not start, the instrument cluster
will display a screen with inactive
fuel and battery gauges. See
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle
on page 9-18. Service Only Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding the POWER
O
button for more than five seconds
will place the vehicle in Service
Only Mode. The instruments and
audio systems will operate as they
do in ON/RUN, but the vehicle will
not be able to be driven. The
propulsion system will not start in
Service Only Mode. Press the
button again to turn the vehicle off.
{Caution
Service Only Mode will discharge
the 12-volt battery. Do not use
Service Only Mode for an
extended period, or the vehicle
may not start.
STOPPING THE VEHICLE/OFF:
To turn the vehicle off, press the
POWER
Obutton with the vehicle
in P (Park). Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) will remain active until
the driver door is opened. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 9-19. When turning off the
vehicle, if the vehicle is not in
P (Park), the vehicle will go to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the
message SHIFT TO PARK in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Electric Drive Unit Messages
on page 5-44.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting

Black plate (19,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-19
Welcome, powering up, and
powering down audio messages are
heard as well as displayed on the
instrument cluster. This happens
when opening the driver door upon
entry, and when pressing the
POWER
Obutton.
The instrument cluster displays an
active fuel or battery gauge, along
with an audio startup cue, when the
vehicle is ready to be driven. This
could take up to 15 seconds at
extremely cold temperatures. The
engine will only start if needed.
If the vehicle did not start, the
instrument cluster will display a
screen with inactive fuel and battery
gauges. See Starting and Stopping
the Vehicle on page 9-18.
Restarting Procedure
If the vehicle must be restarted
while it is still moving, move the shift
lever to N (Neutral) and press the
POWER
Obutton twice without
pressing the brake pedal. The
propulsion system will not restart in
any other position. Computers determine when the
engine needs to run. The engine
may start, if required, when the
propulsion system is on. Some
vehicle conditions that force the
engine to run:
.There are cold ambient
temperatures.
.The hood is open or not
completely latched.
.The high voltage battery has a
low charge.
.The engine needs to run for
maintenance.
See Maintenance Modes on
page 9-25.
A chime will sound if the driver door
is opened while the vehicle is in ON/
RUN. Always press the POWER
O
button to turn the vehicle off before
exiting.
Stopping Procedure
For information on how to turn the
vehicle off, see Power Button on
page 9-16.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
The following features will operate
for up to 10 minutes or until the
driver door is opened:
.Audio System
.Accessory Power Outlets
Power windows will operate for up
to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake on
page 9-30.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pushing the lever all the way
toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the vehicle off.

Black plate (21,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-21
electric drive unit to be locked in
P (Park) until the propulsion system
has warmed sufficiently.
The shift lock is always functional
except in the case of an uncharged
or low charged 12-volt battery (less
than 9 volts).
If the vehicle has an uncharged
12-volt battery or a 12-volt battery
with low voltage, try charging or
jump starting the 12-volt battery.
SeeBattery on page 10-23 orJump
Starting on page 10-70.
If the console shift lever cannot be
moved out of P (Park):
1. Apply and maintain the regular brakes.
2. Turn the vehicle on using the POWER
Obutton. See Power
Button on page 9-16.
3. Let up on the shift lever and make sure the shift lever is
pushed all the way into P (Park).
4. Press the shift lever button. 5. Move the shift lever into the
desired gear.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), see your dealer
or a professional towing service.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Electric Vehicle
Operating Modes
System Operation
This vehicle is an Extended Range
Electric Vehicle (EREV). It uses an
electric propulsion system to drive
the vehicle at all times. Electricity is
the vehicle's primary source of
energy, while gasoline is the
secondary source.
The vehicle has two modes of
operation: Electric and Extended
Range. In both modes, the vehicle
is propelled by its electric drive unit.
It converts electrical energy into
mechanical energy to drive the
wheels. See Driving for Better
Energy Efficiency on page 9-2.
Electric Mode
In Electric Mode, the vehicle does
not use fuel or produce tailpipe
emissions. During this primary
mode, the vehicle is powered by
electrical energy stored in the high

Black plate (22,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-22 Driving and Operating
voltage battery. The vehicle can
operate in this mode until the
battery has reached a low charge.
There are some conditions when the
battery charge is high enough to
provide Electric Mode operation, but
the engine still runs. They are:
.Cold ambient temperatures.
.Hot or cold high voltage battery
temperatures.
.The hood being open or not
completely closed and latched.
.Certain high voltage battery fault
conditions.
.Engine Maintenance Mode or
Fuel Maintenance Mode
being run.
Extended Range Mode
When the vehicle reaches the end
of its electric range, it switches to
Extended Range Mode (ERM). In
this secondary mode, electricity is
produced by the fuel‐powered
engine. This secondary source ofelectric power extends the vehicle
range. Operation will continue in
ERM until the vehicle can be
plugged in to recharge the high
voltage battery and restore
Electric Mode.
The high voltage battery will
continue to provide some power and
work together with the engine to
provide peak performance when it is
required, such as driving up a steep
incline or for high acceleration
maneuvers. The battery will not be
charged nor will electric vehicle
range be restored by the engine.
In either Electric Mode or Extended
Range Mode, when the hood is
open, the engine will run without
turning off if the vehicle is on. The
high voltage battery is neither
charged nor discharged when this
occurs.
In either Electric Mode or Extended
Range Mode, if there is a high
voltage battery fault, the engine may
run without turning off to generate
needed electricity. The malfunctionindicator lamp will turn on. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5-17.
Driver Selected Operating
Modes
While driving in Electric or Extended
Range Mode, additional operating
modes can be selected.
Press the MODE switch to display
selectable drive modes in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). Continue
pressing to scroll through the
modes.