brake OPEL AMPERA E 2017.5 Manual user

156Driving and operatingIf 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. Reduce the
vehicle speed and try to shift again.
To shift in and out of R:
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. To shift into R, press the shift lock
release button on the side of the
shift lever and move the shift lever
forward, and then to the left. R is
illuminated in red.
To shift out of R, shift to the
desired gear.Caution
Shifting to R while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the electric drive unit. Shift to R only
after the vehicle is stopped.
At 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 N only.
The vehicle is not designed to stay in N for extended periods of time. It will
automatically shift to P.
To shift in and out of N:
To shift into N, move the shift lever
forward. If the vehicle is in P, press
the shift lock release button while pressing the shift lever back. The shifter indicator is illuminated in red.
To shift out of N, bring the vehicle to
a complete stop and shift to 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 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.
To shift in and out of D:
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. To shift into D, move the shift lever
back. If the vehicle is in P, press
the shift lock release button while pressing the shift lever back. D is
illuminated in red.
To shift out of D, shift to the
desired gear.
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.

Driving and operating157Caution
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.
Car wash mode (vehicle off)
To place the vehicle in N with the
vehicle off:
1. Switch the vehicle off.
2. Place the vehicle in Service mode
3 149.
3. Open the door while depressing the brake, and then shift to N.
4. The indicator should now show N.
If it does not, repeat the procedure.
5. When N is no longer needed, shift
into P and switch the vehicle off.
Car wash mode (vehicle on)
To place the vehicle in N with the
vehicle running:
1. Open the door while pressing the brake, then shift to N.
2. The indicator should now show N.
If it does not, select N again.
3. Shift into P upon returning to the
vehicle.
One-pedal driving
With one-pedal driving, the
accelerator pedal can be used to
control the deceleration of the vehicle
down to a complete stop.
Completely lifting off the accelerator
pedal will result in aggressive
deceleration. Slowly lifting off the
accelerator pedal will allow the
deceleration of the vehicle to be
adjusted as desired.
To use one-pedal driving, place
vehicle in L. 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 grades, 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 maintain the
grade while using one-pedal driving,
the electric parking brake may be
applied to hold the vehicle stationary.
To drive again, press 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 five minutes.
● There is a problem with the propulsion system.

158Driving and operatingAdditional deceleration can be
achieved by using the regenerative braking paddle. Regenerative braking
3 160.Brakes
The brake system comprises twoindependent 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 80.
Antilock brake system
Antilock brake system (ABS)
prevents the wheels from locking.ABS 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 80.
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

Driving and operating159hard 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 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
one second until control indicator
m illuminates constantly and
electric parking brake is applied
3 80. The electric parking brake
operates automatically with
adequate force.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the electric parking brake status.
Control indicator m 3 80.
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a
complete stop.
2. Pull switch m for approx. one
second.
The 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 80.
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 m switch during the
deceleration process will release the
parking brake. If the m switch is

160Driving and operatingpulled 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 m switch 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 m switch 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 thatthe 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 80, Electric parking
brake fault control indicator j3 80,
Driver Information Centre 3 83.
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.

Driving and operating161Regeneration 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 77.
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. Refer to
"One-pedal driving” in Electric drive
unit 3 155.
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 thehigh voltage battery is full, allowing space for energy from regenerative
braking.
This feature also integrates with the Location-based charging feature,
allowing you to configure the system
so it is enabled when you are at home ( On – home only ) or away (On – away
only ). See "Location based charging"
in Programmable charging 3 197.

162Driving and operatingRide control systems
Traction Control system
The Traction Control system (TC) is a component of the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC).
TC improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip, by
preventing the drive wheels from
spinning.
As soon as the drive wheels starts to
spin, electric drive unit output is
reduced and the wheel spinning the
most is braked individually. This
considerably improves the driving
stability of the vehicle on slippery road
surfaces.
TC is operational as soon as the
control indicator b extinguishes.
When TC operates b flashes.
9
Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator b 3 81.
Deactivation
TC can be switched off when spinning of drive wheels is required: press b
briefly.
Control indicator k illuminates.
A status message appears in the
Driver Information Centre when TC is
deactivated.
When TC is deactivated, ESC
remains active but with a higher
control threshold.
TC is reactivated by pressing b
again. A status message pops-up in
the Driver Information Centre when
TC is reactivated.
TC is also reactivated the next time
the vehicle is switched on.
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate heavily if TC is off. The
vehicle's driveline could be
damaged.

Driving and operating163Fault
If there is a fault in the system the
control indicator b illuminates
continuously and a message appears in the Driver Information Centre. The
system is not operational.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Electronic Stability Control
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip.
As soon as the vehicle starts to
swerve (understeer/oversteer),
electric drive unit output is reduced and the wheels are braked
individually. This considerably
improves the driving stability of the
vehicle on slippery road surfaces.ESC is operational as soon as the
control indicator b extinguishes.
When ESC operates b flashes.9 Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator b 3 81.
Deactivation
For very high-performance driving,
ESC can be deactivated:
Press and hold b until k and a
illuminate and a message appears in the Driver Information Centre.
ESC is reactivated by pressing the
b button again.
If cruise control is being used when
ESC is activated, cruise control will
automatically disengage. Press the
cruise control button to re-engage if
road conditions allow. Cruise control
3 164.
Fault
If there is a fault in the system the
control indicator b illuminates
continuously and a message appears in the Driver Information Centre. The
system is not operational.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.

Driving and operating165Switching on
Press m; control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates white.
Press m again to deactivate cruise
control.
Activation
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 82.
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, pressSET/- until the desired speed is
reached or press SET/- repeatedly:
speed is decreased in small
increments.
Resume speed
If 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 Press y; control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates white.Cruise control is deactivated, but not
switched off. Last stored speed
remains in memory for later speed
resume.
Automatic deactivation: ● Vehicle speed is below approx. 25 km/h.
● The brake pedal is depressed.
● The shift lever is in N.
● The Traction Control system or Electronic Stability Control is
operating.
Switching off
Press m, control indicator m in
instrument cluster extinguishes. The stored speed is deleted.
Speed limiter
The speed limiter prevents the
vehicle exceeding a preset maximum
speed.
The maximum speed can be set at
speeds above 25 km/h.

168Driving and operating
Simultaneously a warning chime
sounds. Depress the brake pedal and
steer the vehicle, if it is required by the
situation.
Selecting the alert sensitivity The alert sensitivity to near, medium
or far.Press V, the current setting is shown
on the Driver Information Centre.
Press V repeatedly to change the
alert sensitivity. The selected setting
is also displayed in the Driver
Information Centre. The last selected
setting will be stored when the vehicle
is switched off.Deactivation
The system can be deactivated in the
personalisation menu 3 92.
If the forward collision alert was
deactivated, alert sensitivity is set to
"medium" 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