wheel OPEL AMPERA E 2018 Manual user

Driving and operating153Electric vehicle
operation modes
Operation This vehicle is a purely electrically
driven 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

154Driving and operatingThe 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.

Driving and operating155At 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.
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.

Driving and operating157Car 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.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.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 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

Driving and operating159pulled 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 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 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.

160Driving and operatingRegeneration 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 3 153.
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 ).
Location based charging 3 196.

Driving and operating161Ride 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.
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.

162Driving and operatingFault
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 80.
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 3 163.
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 operating163ResettingIf b illuminates and remains
illuminated, reset the system as
follows:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Switch off the vehicle and wait for
15 seconds.
3. Switch on the vehicle. If b still illuminates and remains
illuminated, seek the assistance
of a workshop.Driver assistance
systems9 Warning
Driver assistance systems are
developed to support the driver
and not to replace the driver's
attention.
The driver stays in full control of
the vehicle and accepts full
responsibility when driving the
vehicle.
When using driver assistance
systems, always take care
regarding the current traffic
situation and follow applicable
traffic rules.
Cruise control
The cruise control can store and
maintain speeds of approx. 25 km/h
or more.
Deviations from the stored speeds may occur when driving uphill or
downhill.
With 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 3 161.
Electronic Stability Control 3 162.
If a collision alert occurs when cruise
control is activated, cruise control is
disengaged.
Forward collision alert 3 166.
Do not use the cruise control if it is not
advisable to maintain a constant
speed.

168Driving and operatingapproaching 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.
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 3 166 and front pedestrian
protection 3 171.
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