Brakes OPEL AMPERA E 2017.5 Owner's Manual

14In briefElectric drive unitP:ParkR:ReverseN:NeutralD:DriveL:Low
The shift lever can only be moved out
of P when the vehicle is on, the brake
pedal is applied first, and then the
shift lever button is pressed.
Electric drive unit 3 154.
Starting off
Check before starting off ● Tyre pressure and condition 3 231, 3 250.
● 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, seats, and seat belts 3 31, 3 39,
3 44.
● 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.
Press POWER m once more.
Release button after starting
procedure begins.● 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 .......................155
Operation ................................. 155
Brakes ........................................ 158
Antilock brake system .............158
Parking brake .......................... 159
Regenerative braking ..............160
Ride control systems .................162
Traction Control system ..........162
Electronic Stability Control ......163Driver assistance systems .........164
Cruise control .......................... 164
Speed limiter ........................... 165
Forward collision alert .............167
Following distance indication ...169
Active emergency braking .......169
Front pedestrian protection .....172
Parking assist .......................... 174
Side blind spot alert .................181
Lane change alert ....................183
Panoramic view system ...........184
Rear view camera ...................185
Rear cross traffic alert .............187
Traffic sign assistant ................188
Lane keep assist .....................191
Charging .................................... 193
Programmable charging ..........197
Programmed charging override .................................. 203
Charging status .......................204
Charge cord ............................. 205
Electrical requirements ............208
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 operatingA chime will sound if the driver's dooris opened while the vehicle is
switched on. Always press button
POWER m to switch the vehicle off
before exiting the vehicle.
If the vehicle will not start due to a low radio remote control 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
shift lever to N and press button
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 shift lever to N. This can
be done while the vehicle is moving. After shifting to N, firmly
apply the brakes and steer the
vehicle to a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P, and switch the vehicle off 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 two
seconds, or press twice briefly
within five 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 switch on the vehicle while the vehicle is plugged in
when exterior temperatures are
below 0° C.
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.9 Warning
● Always apply parking brake.
Pull switch m for approx. one
second and check if the control
indicator m illuminates.

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 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.

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

Driving and operating169approaching 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 83.
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.
Active emergency braking
Active emergency braking can help toreduce the damage and injury from
crashes with vehicles, pedestrians and obstacles directly ahead, when a
collision can no longer be avoided
either by manual braking or by
steering. Before the active
emergency braking applies, the driver
is warned by the forward collision
alert 3 167 and front pedestrian
protection 3 172.
The feature uses various inputs (e.g.
camera sensor, brake pressure,
vehicle speed) to calculate the
probability of a frontal collision.9 Warning
This system is not intended to
replace the driver responsibility for driving the vehicle and looking
ahead. Its function is limited to