VF Commodore Electric handbrake could cause a problem...

Just been reading a story about the Tesla Model S, the US electric car. Long story short, batteries end up flat and because the handbrake was on and it is an electric handbrake, flat bettery meant couldn't release the handbrake. This might be a bit of an annoyance if you have a manual VF, park the car with the handbrake on and the battery goes flat, you won't be able to push/roll start it because you won't be able to release the handbrake.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...e/#more-477288

Cheers, Matthew

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jag530G

Just been reading a story about the Tesla Model S, the US electric car. Long story short, batteries end up flat and because the handbrake was on and it is an electric handbrake, flat bettery meant couldn't release the handbrake. This might be a bit of an annoyance if you have a manual VF, park the car with the handbrake on and the battery goes flat, you won't be able to push/roll start it because you won't be able to release the handbrake.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...e/#more-477288

Cheers, Matthew

---

I guess it depends on how it works and perhaps how much current it uses (if any) when the brake is on. I would be thinking they would use current to operate or release the brake, but once operated or released, no current used to maintain it in that state, maybe a held by a spring once operated? The Captiva II already has an electric handbrake.

I agree the default condition no battery power hand brake fully engaged until battery power restored!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by redvxr8clubby

I guess it depends on how it works and perhaps how much current it uses (if any) when the brake is on. I would be thinking they would use current to operate or release the brake, but once operated or released, no current used to maintain it in that state, maybe a held by a spring once operated? The Captiva II already has an electric handbrake.

---

Yes, that's right, I understand power is only required to change to and from handbrake on/handbrake off, doesn't need power to stay on or off. But is the problem in this instance of a flat battery. If you had the handbrake on and the battery goes flat, you won't be able to release the handbrake so you can roll/push start the car. Basically you're stuck and will need a jump start but no push start.

Cheers, Matthew

don't think there will be a prob we recently had our Captiva sit in the garage for a week and a half with out moving and it started straight away.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by redvxr8clubby

I guess it depends on how it works and perhaps how much current it uses (if any) when the brake is on. I would be thinking they would use current to operate or release the brake, but once operated or released, no current used to maintain it in that state, maybe a held by a spring once operated? The Captiva II already has an electric handbrake.

---

Giving the notoriety of VEs making batteries flat then it would be worrying for some. Tbh though if there wasn't a backup charge for this I would be suprised

If the battery is completely flat (which from my knowledge was only a problem for early model VE's and has been fixed since) and you have a manual not an auto you better hope you have a clear path because your steering lock will activate..

If your battery is not "completely" flat you will still have enough power to disengage the hand brake.

I know this because my wife's Captiva had a faulty battery which was near flat, couldn't get the engine to turn over but we could disengage the hand brake.

...Or some kind of mechanical override, you'd think

Well considering the car will be parked to let a battery go flat, moving it shouldn't be a big issue. Push starting it still requires some power, so if you got that you should be able to release the handbrake. Plus most people have Auto's anyway so your going to need a jump pack which mitigates any issue. EPB's aren't new.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by macca_779

Well considering the car will be parked to let a battery go flat, moving it shouldn't be a big issue. Push starting it still requires some power, so if you got that you should be able to release the handbrake. Plus most people have Auto's anyway so your going to need a jump pack which mitigates any issue. EPB's aren't new.

---

Agree -no problem,
My new Holden VOLT has electric park brake - the worst that can happen as above (flat 12v battery) so you need to jump start the car for a little juice and it will release the brake then.
Much like shift lock on other brands.

PS I absolutely like my Electric park brake - it's like lowering or lifting the landing gear in a plane.
Plus....
If I ever need extra park brake application on a really steep hill, I activate it twice and it applies extra !

No need to worry Electric park brake as it has many benefits and is way cool - than that crappy lever from the early 1900's
dragging meters of cable, welcome to the current world of drive by wire - even for the park brake system as well now.

So how many more VOLT features in the new VF ? ;-)

Cheers,

Martin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by macca_779

Well considering the car will be parked to let a battery go flat, moving it shouldn't be a big issue. Push starting it still requires some power, so if you got that you should be able to release the handbrake. Plus most people have Auto's anyway so your going to need a jump pack which mitigates any issue. EPB's aren't new.

---

exactly right, basically there's nothing to worry about... unless you want to use the handbrake for sliding the rear end doing some rallying in your commodore :hide:

Hey Martin on the volt is it like some euros where if you open the door with the car off it activates automatically. Also does it disengage automatically when you apply throttle.

Actually another question is if these cars have electric steering and you have a flat battery, can you steer the car at all, I assume not. Of course power steering cars are very difficult to steer without the engine running, but you can get some wheel movement, I assume there would be no steering until you get some power after startup, or is it electrically power assisted and similar behaviour to normal power steer cars if the engine isn't running?

Can anyone explain to me the benefits of replacing a lever, cable and simple ratching mechanism with a complicated electrical system to perform the same job? is pulling the hand brake lever that taxing that we need the car to do it for us?

Jeez lets wait till the car is actually on the salesroom floor before we start predicting the end of the world of what COULD happen