wheel OPEL AMPERA E 2018.5 Manual user

154Driving and operatingElectric vehicle
operation modes
Operation This vehicle is a purely electricallydriven vehicle. It always uses an
electric propulsion system to drive the
vehicle. Electricity is the vehicle's only source of energy.
Drive modes Sport modeSport mode provides more
responsive acceleration than normal
mode, but can reduce energy
efficiency. Use normal mode
whenever possible.
When the 3 indicator does not
illuminate, the vehicle is in normal
mode.
Press SPORT to select Sport mode.
Press SPORT again to return to
normal mode.
The 3 indicator will be
displayed in the instrument cluster
when Sport mode is selected.
Control indicator 3 80.
When Sport mode is active and the
vehicle is switched off, Sport mode
will still be active when the vehicle is switched on again.
Sport mode may be unavailable if the high voltage battery charge is too low.Electric drive unit
Operation The vehicle uses an electric drive
unit. The selector lever is located on
the centre console between the
seats.P:park position, wheels are locked, engage only when the vehicle is
stationaryR:reverse gear, engage only when
the vehicle is stationaryN:neutralD:drive mode, low recuperationL:low, high recuperation, enables
one pedal drive

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.

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 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

162Driving and operatinghigh 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 ).
Location based charging 3 197.Ride 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 80.
Deactivation
TC can be switched off when spinning of drive wheels is required: press b
briefly.

Driving and operating163
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.
Fault
If there is a fault in the system the
control indicator b illuminates
continuously and a message appears in the Driver Information Centre. Thesystem 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 80.
Deactivation

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.