METHOD FOR DISCHARGING AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

The invention relates to a method for discharging an energy storage device for electrical energy, which is intended to supply an electrical machine of a motor vehicle. The invention relates in particular to such a method for discharging the electrical energy storage device to a predetermined parking voltage. According to general aspects of the invention, the electrical machine is a switched reluctance machine, whose phase windings (U, V, W) are controlled by an inverter with the aid of switches. The method provides that after fulfillment of at least one activation condition (S2) for activating a discharge process of the energy storage device, the discharge process is activated, in which the energy storage device is discharged via the reluctance machine to a predetermined parking state, wherein by means of the inverter at least one phase winding is energized as a discharge resistor, in which a magnetic field generated by a discharge current does not develop a force that is large enough to move the drive train or the motor vehicle (S3, S4).