Regenerative Braking - Vauxhall Ampera Owner's Manual

If the electrical parking brake fails to
apply, the rear wheels should be
blocked to prevent vehicle
movement.
For maximum electrical parking brake
force when parking on a hill, pull the
electrical parking brake switch twice.
Electrical parking brake release
To release the electrical parking
brake, switch the ignition on, apply
and hold the brake pedal and push
down momentarily on the m switch. If
attempting to release the electrical
parking brake without the brake pedal
applied, a chime will sound and
a message will be displayed in the
DIC. The electrical parking brake is
released when m is off.
If p is on, the electrical parking brake
has detected a system problem, and
is operating with reduced
functionality. To release the electrical
parking brake when p is on, push
down on the m switch and hold it in
the down position. Electrical parking
brake release may take a longer
period of time than normal when p is
on. Continue to hold the m switch
until the control indicator m is off. If
the light remains on, 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
the parking brake is fully released
and the control indicator m is off
before driving.
Automatic release of the electrical
parking brake
The electrical parking brake will
automatically release if the vehicle is
running, placed into gear and an
attempt is made to drive away. Avoid
rapid acceleration when the electrical
parking brake is applied, to preserve
parking brake lining life.
Electrical parking brake m control
indicator 3 63.
Electrical parking brake fault p
control indicator 3 63.
Driver Information Centre (DIC) 3 67.
Driving and operating

Regenerative braking

Regenerative braking takes some of
the energy from the moving vehicle
and turns it back into electrical
energy.
This energy is then stored back into
the high voltage battery system,
contributing to increased energy
efficiency.
The hydraulic disc brakes work with
the regenerative braking to ensure
effective braking, such as when
a high braking demand is requested.
The braking system is computer
controlled and blends the
regenerative braking with the
conventional hydraulic disc brakes to
meet any requirements for
deceleration. The controller interprets
the braking request and uses
regenerative braking, conventional
hydraulic braking or a combination of
both as necessary. Because the
controller applies the hydraulic
brakes through its high pressure
accumulator, you may occasionally
hear the motor‐driven pump when it
recharges the system.
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