ESP 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

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 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.

Driving and operating165The driver can only accelerate up to
the preset speed. Deviations from the
limited speed may occur when driving
downhill.
The preset speed limit is displayed in
the Driver Information Centre when
the system is active.
Activation
Press L.
If cruise control has been activated
beforehand, it is switched off when
speed limiter is activated and the
control indicator m extinguishes.
Set speed limit
Accelerate to the desired speed and
briefly press SET/-: the current speed
is stored as maximum speed.
Speed limit is displayed in the Driver
Information Centre.
Change speed limit
With speed limiter active, press
RES/+ to increase or SET/- to
decrease the desired maximum
speed.
Exceeding the speed limit
When exceeding the limited speed
without driver input, the speed will
flash in the Driver Information Centre
and a chime sounds during this
period.
In the event of an emergency, it is
possible to exceed the speed limit by
depressing the accelerator pedal
firmly nearly to the final point. In this
case no chime sounds.
Release the accelerator pedal and
the speed limiter function is
reactivated once a speed lower than
the limit speed is obtained.
Deactivation The limited speed will be stored andis indicated in brackets in the Driver
Information Centre. Additionally, a
corresponding message appears.
Speed limiter is deactivated, but not
switched off. Last stored speed
remains in memory for later speed
resume.

166Driving and operatingResume limit speed
Press RES/+ . The stored speed limit
will be obtained.
Switching off
Press L, the speed limit indication
extinguishes in the Driver Information Centre. The stored speed is deleted.
By pressing m to activate cruise
control or adaptive cruise control,
speed limiter is also deactivated and
the stored speed is deleted.
By switching off the vehicle, speed
limiter is also deactivated, but the
speed limit will be stored for next
speed limiter activation.
Forward collision alert The forward collision alert may help toavoid or reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes.
The forward collision alert uses the
front camera system in the
windscreen to detect a vehicle
directly ahead, in your path, within a
distance of approx. 60 m.
A vehicle ahead is indicated by the
control indicator A.
If a vehicle directly ahead is
approached too quickly, a warning
chime is sounded.
Additionally, the driver is notified by a
flashing red LED stripe which is
projected on the windscreen in the
driver's field of view.
A precondition is that forward collision alert is not deactivated in the vehicle
personalisation 3 91.
Activation
Forward collision alert operates
automatically above 8 km/h, if it is not deactivated in the vehicle
personalisation menu.
Alerting the driver
The vehicle ahead control indicator
A illuminates green in the instrument
cluster when the system has detected
a vehicle in the driving path.
The control indicator A changes to
yellow when the distance to a
preceding moving vehicle gets too
small or when approaching another
vehicle too rapidly.Caution
The colour lighting of this control
indicator does not correspond to
local traffic laws on following
distance. The driver bears full
responsibility for maintaining safe
following distance according to
applicable traffic rules, weather
and road conditions etc. at all
times.
When the time to a potential collision
with a vehicle in front gets too small
and a collision is imminent, the driver
is notified by a flashing red LED stripe which is projected on the windscreen
in the driver's field of view.

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

Driving and operating169supplemental use only to reduce
the vehicle speed before a
collision.
The system may not react to
animals. After a sudden lane
change, the system needs a
certain time to detect the next
preceding vehicle.
The driver must always be ready
to take action and apply the brakes
and steer to avoid collisions.
Functionality
If equipped only with front camera the
active emergency braking operates in
a forward gear above walking speed
up to 80 km/h.
A precondition is that the system is
not deactivated in the vehicle
personalisation menu 3 91.
The system includes: ● brake preparation system
● emergency automatic braking ● forward looking brake assist
● front pedestrian protection system
Brake preparation system
When approaching a vehicle ahead
or a pedestrian so quickly that a
collision is likely, the brake
preparation system slightly
pressurises the brakes. This reduces
the response time, when a manual or automatic braking is requested.
The brake system is prepared so that
braking can occur more rapidly.
If equipped only with front camera the system operates up to a speed of
80 km/h.
Emergency automatic braking After activation of brake preparation
system and just before the imminent
collision, this function automatically
applies limited braking to reduce the
impact speed of the collision or
prevent a crash.
Depending on the situation, the
vehicle may automatically brake
moderately or hard. This front
automatic braking can only occur if a
vehicle ahead is detected, indicated
by the vehicle ahead indicator A
3 166. On vehicles with frontpedestrian protection, automatic
braking can also occur when a
pedestrian ahead is detected,
indicated by the pedestrian ahead
indicator 7.
The system operates up to a speed of
80 km/h.
Below a speed of 40 km/h the system can apply full braking.
Emergency automatic braking may slow the vehicle to a complete stop to
try to avoid a potential crash. If this
happens, emergency automatic
braking may engage the electric
parking brake to hold the vehicle at a
stop. To release, push the electric
parking brake switch or firmly depress the accelerator pedal.9 Warning
Emergency automatic braking is
an emergency crash preparation
feature and is not designed to
avoid crashes. Do not rely on the
system to brake the vehicle.
Emergency automatic braking will

170Driving and operatingnot brake outside of its operatingspeed range and only responds to
detected vehicles.
Forward looking brake assist
In addition to the brake preparation
system and emergency automatic
braking, the forward looking brake
assist function makes the brake assist more sensitive. Therefore,
depressing the brake pedal less
strongly results in immediate hard
braking. This function helps the driver
brake quicker and harder before an
imminent collision.
The system operates up to a speed of 80 km/h.
9 Warning
Active emergency braking is not
designed to apply hard
autonomous braking or to
automatically avoid a collision. It is designed to reduce the vehicle
speed before a collision. It may not
react to animals. After a sudden
lane change, the system needs a
certain time to detect the next
preceding vehicle.
The complete attention of the
driver is always required while
driving. The driver must always be
ready to take action and apply the brakes and steer to avoid
collisions.
Intelligent brake assist
Intelligent brake assist may activate
when the brake pedal is applied
quickly by providing a boost to
braking based on the speed of
approach and distance to a vehicle
ahead.
Minor brake pedal pulsations or pedal movement during this time are normal and the brake pedal should continue
to be applied as required. Intelligent
brake assist will automatically
disengage only when the brake pedal is released.
9 Warning
Intelligent brake assist may
increase vehicle braking in
situations when it may not be
necessary. You could block the
flow of traffic. If this occurs, take
your foot off the brake pedal and
then apply the brakes as needed.
Front pedestrian protection
Front pedestrian protection 3 171.
Deactivation Active emergency braking can be
deactivated in the personalisation
menu in the Info display 3 91.
If deactivated, a message is
displayed in the Driver Information
Centre.
The system is reactivated the next time the vehicle is switched on.
System limitations In some cases, the active emergencybraking system may provide
automatic braking in situations that
seem to be unnecessary, for instance

Driving and operating171in parking garages, due to traffic signs
in a curve or due to vehicles in
another lane. This is normal
operation, the vehicle does not need
a service. Firmly apply the accelerator pedal if the situation and
surroundings permit to override the
automatic braking.
In the following cases, active
emergency braking performance is
limited:
● When driving on winding or hilly roads.
● When not all vehicles are detected, especially vehicles witha trailer, tractors, muddy
vehicles, etc.
● When detecting a vehicle when weather limits visibility, such as in
fog, rain, or snow.
● During nighttime driving.
● When weather limits visibility, such as fog, rain, or snow.
● When the sensor in the windscreen is blocked by snow,
ice, slush, mud, dirt, windscreen
damage or affected by foreign
items, e.g. stickers.To avoid malfunction keep the areas
of the camera sensor in the
windscreen always clear of dirt, dust,
ice and snow.
Complete attention is always required
while driving, and you should be
ready to take action and apply the
brakes and / or steer the vehicle to
avoid crashes.
Fault
In case the system requires a service, a message is displayed in the Driver
Information Centre.
If the system does not work as it
should do, vehicle messages are
displayed in the Driver Information
Centre.
Vehicle messages 3 89.
Front pedestrian protection The front pedestrian protection
system may help avoid or reduce the
harm caused by front-end crashes with nearby pedestrians when driving in a forward gear.The system uses the front camera inthe windscreen to detect a pedestrian
directly ahead in your path.
The front pedestrian protection
system can detect and alert about
pedestrians when in a forward gear at
speeds between 8 km/h and
80 km/h.
Additionally, the front pedestrian
protection system can provide a
boost to braking or automatically
brake the vehicle.
During daytime driving, the system detects pedestrians up to a distance
of approximately 40 m. During nighttime driving, system
performance might be limited.
The front pedestrian protection can
be set to Off, Alert or Alert and
Brake in the vehicle personalisation
3 91.