of the no x storage catalytic converter are checked in the case of exhaust gas post treatments it must be guaranteed that the exhaust gas temperature t exhaust gas is sufficiently high as has been described above this is the case if the exhaust gas temperature is at least 400 u00b0 c because then the conventional measures rich operating state are sufficient in step s 2 in order to reach the regeneration temperature of approximately 650 u00b0 c subsequently the regeneration takes place in step s 100 if the exhaust gas temperature is high enough step 2 can be skipped and the regeneration of the no x storage catalytic converter can be started in step s 100 if the exhaust gas temperature measured in step s 1 is not sufficient a check is performed to determine whether or not a suitable driving state is to be expected in step s 3 in the stored profile of the driver this means that the vehicle electronics statistically evaluate the driving behavior of the driver in this way an evaluation in step s 4 can identify whether or not the vehicle will soon be driven in a full load or a partial load range if such a driving state is to be expected the steps s 2 and s 100 are carried out in the same way as step s 100 if no optimum driving states are to be expected step s 5 follows in which a check is performed to determine whether or not the no x storage catalytic converter is in a critical load state if this.