Method for operating an electric drive system

A method for operating an electric drive system of a motor vehicle, which comprises at least one backup battery and at least one fuel cell for providing electric drive power, wherein route data is determined and then, based on this route data, consumption data is forecast to optimize the operation of the fuel cell,

• characterized in that, to optimize the operation of the fuel cell based on the forecast consumption data, a total energy demand for the route is forecast, after which a mean fuel cell power is determined, which is required to provide the total energy demand together with the energy stored in the backup battery at the starting time of the route,
• whereby a constant power trajectory for the power required for this from the fuel cell is defined, after which a check is performed to determine whether limit values of the backup battery are violated during traveling the route using the power trajectory:
• if no limit value is violated, the fuel cell is operated with the defined power trajectory;
• if a limit value is violated, the power of the fuel cell is changed in the area where the limit value is violated by an amount that remains constant over time, and then adjusted in order to achieve the mean fuel cell power again over the entire route, whereby a new power trajectory is defined, after which
• the check is run through again with the new power trajectory until a power trajectory without violation of limit values of the backup battery has been determined, according to which the fuel cell is then operated.