Control of an electric intake air heater of an internal combustion engine

The method involves assigning heating energy and heating temperature to the measured heating time according to a determined heating characteristic curve or a heating map. The cooling energy and cooling temperature are assigned to the measured cooling time according to a determined cooling characteristic curve or cooling map. The cooling energy is differentiated from the heating energy. The residual heat energy is used as a criterion to determine whether the re-heating season start without overheating is permitted or whether the preheating period is shortened.