Abstract: In conventional high-temperature storage batteries, cooling systems of very large dimension are provided to prevent overheating of the storage cells even when maximum power is being delivered. The object of the invention is to provide a method which makes it possible to equip high-temperature storage batteries with cooling systems which are of smaller dimension and with which any overheating of the storage cells is ruled out. According to the invention, at the permissible internal temperature the current having a heat loss which produces the internal temperature is determined while taking the parameters associated with the high-temperature storage battery into account. The internal temperature is continuously measured during the delivery of the current. The cooling system is switched on if the internal temperature rises above the permissible value.