METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRIC MACHINE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE

The invention relates to a method for operating an electric machine (), in particular of a motor vehicle (), having a stator () with at least one stator coil. The stator coil is energized in order to set a required torque of the electric machine (), and a temperature of the stator () of the electric machine () is detected by means of a temperature sensor (). The current flowing through the stator coil is monitored in order to plausibility-check the detected temperature. In order to plausibility-check the temperature, the current in the stator coil is increased while maintaining the same torque, and the temperature is monitored for a temperature increase.