parking brake OPEL AMPERA E 2018 User Guide

152Driving and operating9Warning
● Always apply parking brake.
Pull switch m for approx. one
second and check if the control
indicator m illuminates.
The electric parking brake is
applied when control indicator
m illuminates 3 79.
● Switch off the vehicle.
● If the vehicle is on a level surface or uphill slope, applythe parking brake and set the
selector lever to P before
switching off the vehicle. On an uphill slope, turn the front
wheels away from the kerb.
If the vehicle is on a downhill
slope, apply the parking brake
and set the selector lever to P
before switching off the vehicle.
Turn the front wheels towards
the kerb.
With the selector lever in P,
press POWER m briefly to
switch off the vehicle. Turn the
steering wheel until the
steering wheel lock engages.
● Close the windows.
● Lock the vehicle.
● Activate the anti-theft alarm system.
● The engine cooling fans may run
after the vehicle has been
switched off 3 211.
It is not recommended to park with the propulsion system running.
If the vehicle is left with the propulsion
system running, follow the proper
steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move.
Post-crash label
The post-crash label is located in the
driver's door frame.
After an accident, park the vehicle
with a sufficient distance of
approx. 7.5 m to other objects.
Park on a non-flammable surface.
Call the hotline number given on the
label to get further instructions on how to handle the vehicle.

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.

156Driving and operatingOne-pedal drivingCaution
When the vehicle is operated in L
and the driver unfastens his seat
belt, the electric parking brake is
automatically applied and one
pedal driving is not possible.
With one-pedal driving, the
accelerator pedal can be used to
control the deceleration of the vehicle
down to a complete stop.
Quick releasing of the accelerator
pedal will result in aggressive
deceleration. Slow releasing of the
accelerator pedal will allow the
deceleration of the vehicle to be
adjusted as desired.
To use one-pedal driving, shift into L.
L is only selectable when the vehicle
is in D. 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 slopes, 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 stop on a slope
while using one-pedal driving, the
electric parking brake may be applied to hold the vehicle stationary.
To drive again, depress 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.Additional deceleration can be
achieved by using the regenerative braking paddle.
Regenerative braking 3 159.
Car wash mode (vehicle off) To place the vehicle in N with the
vehicle off:
1. Switch off the vehicle.
2. Place the vehicle in Service mode
3 148.
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 off the vehicle.

158Driving and operatinghard 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
one 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. 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 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 is

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.

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

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.

172Driving and operating9Danger
Front pedestrian braking does not
provide an alert or automatically
brake the vehicle, unless it detects
a pedestrian.
The system may not detect
pedestrians, including children,
when the pedestrian is not directly ahead, not fully visible, not
standing upright, or when part of a
group.
Front pedestrian protection includes:
● detecting front pedestrian ahead● front pedestrian alert
● automatic braking
Pedestrian detected ahead
A pedestrian ahead is indicated up to
a distance of approximately 40 m by control indicator 7 in the instrument
cluster.
Front pedestrian alert
When the vehicle approaches a
detected pedestrian ahead too
rapidly, a red flashing LED alert is projected onto the windscreen in the
driver's field of view and a warning
chime is sounded. The brake system
may prepare for driver braking to
occur more rapidly which can cause a
brief, mild deceleration. Continue to
apply the brake pedal as required.
Cruise control may be disengaged
when the front pedestrian alert
occurs.
Automatic braking If a crash into a pedestrian directly
ahead is imminent and the brakes
have not been applied, the braking
strength is automatically adapted.
This can help to avoid some very low speed pedestrian crashes or reduce
pedestrian injury.
Automatic braking levels may be
reduced under certain conditions, such as higher speeds.
If this happens, automatic braking
may engage the electric parking
brake to hold the vehicle at a stop.
Release the electric parking brake. A
firm press of the accelerator pedal will
also release automatic braking and
the electric parking brake 3 158.
This system includes intelligent brake assist, and the emergency automatic
braking system may also respond to
pedestrians.
Active emergency braking 3 168.

Driving and operating173Automatic braking can be disabled
through vehicle personalisation 3 91.
General information9 Warning
The driver must always be ready
to take action and apply the brakes and steer to avoid collisions.
9 Warning
Front pedestrian braking may alert
or automatically brake the vehicle
suddenly in situations where it is
unexpected and undesired. It
could falsely alert or brake for
objects similar in shape or size to
pedestrians, including shadows.
This is normal operation and the
vehicle does not need a service.
To override Automatic braking,
firmly depress the accelerator
pedal, if it is safe to do so.
System limitations
In the following cases, front
pedestrian protection may not detect
a pedestrian ahead or sensor
performance is limited:
● When vehicle speed is out of range from 8 km/h to 80 km/h .
● When the distance to an pedestrian ahead is more than
40 m.
● When weather limits visibility, such as fog, rain, or snow.
● During nighttime driving.
● When the sensor in the windscreen is blocked by snow,
ice, slush, mud, dirt, windscreen
damage or affected by foreign
items, e.g. stickers.Parking assist
Rear parking assist9 Warning
It is the driver who bears full
responsibility for the parking
manoeuvre.
Always check the surrounding
area while reversing and using the rear parking assist system.
The rear parking assist makes
parking easier by measuring the
distance between the vehicle and
rear obstacles. It informs and warns
the driver by giving acoustic signals
and display indication.

Driving and operating195See "Temporary charge mode
override and cancel" in
Programmable charging 3 196.
Additionally, the stop charge
button on the electronic key may
also be used. Press and hold 5 on
the electronic key. This will also
unlock the vehicle plug.
2. Unplug the vehicle plug of the charge cord from the vehicle.
3. Close the charge port door by pressing firmly in the centre until it
engages.
4. Unplug the charge cord from the electrical outlet.
5. Place the charge cord into the storage compartment.
DC (direct current) charging
Check the charging station DC
vehicle plug for compatibility with the
DC charge port on this vehicle. When
recharging at a DC fast charge
station, the power cable connected to the vehicle must be less than 10 m in
length.
Follow the steps listed on the
charging station to perform a DC
vehicle charge.
If for any reason DC charging does
not begin or is interrupted, check the
DC charge station display for
messages. Unplug to restart the DC
charge process.
Start charging 1. Make sure the vehicle is parked.
2. Push the rearward edge of the charge port door and release to
open the door.
In cold weather conditions, ice
may form around the charge port
door. The charge port door may
not open on the first attempt.
Remove ice from the area andrepeat attempt to open the charge
port door.
3. Open the DC dust cover. Plug in the DC vehicle plug into the DC
charge port on the vehicle. Make
sure that the DC vehicle plug is
fully connected to the DC charge
port. If it is not properly seated
then the charge may not occur.
Proper plug connection can be
checked by information on the
Driver Information Centre.
4. Follow the steps listed on the charging station to start charging.
The electric parking brake will
automatically apply once the
charge process has been started.