Patent ID: 7164256

Claim:
A method for ascertaining electric power provided by a battery and a generator, available in an energy supply system, comprising: ascertaining a battery reserve power in accordance with a battery model, wherein the battery model is implemented as one of a software program stored on a storage medium and a hardware circuit; ascertaining a generator reserve power in accordance with a generator model, wherein the generator model is implemented as one of a software program stored on a storage medium and a hardware circuit; calculating a total available reserve power from the battery reserve power and the generator reserve power; receiving, as input quantities, by the generator model one of: a generator voltage, a generator speed, and a generator temperature; and a plurality of quantities from which the generator voltage, the generator speed, and the generator temperature are derivable; up to a predefined degree of utilization of the generator, estimating a generator voltage supplied to the generator model; and above the predefined degree of utilization, calculating the generator voltage from a battery voltage and a voltage drop on a connection line, wherein the calculating involves a different methodology than the estimating; wherein a plurality of predefined limiting values are definable for a first load of the energy supply system, and wherein, if one of the plurality of predefined limiting values is undershot, one of dimming and switching off at least one predefined electrical load.