Abstract: The vehicle operator should be able to conveniently terminate the process of charging the battery (14) of a motor vehicle (100) with an electric drive (10). For this purpose, during charging the motor vehicle continuously or repeatedly detects whether a predetermined object is located in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, and if this is the case, the charging process is terminated and a provided locking mechanism is released. In particular a “keyless entry” function, which exists anyhow in the motor vehicle, can be used; the predetermined object is then an element having a transponder which is recognized by the motor vehicle as soon as the vehicle operator carrying this element approaches the motor vehicle.