A method for the online adaptation of a characteristic of a hybrid vehicle having a hybridized drive train with an electric drive that can be supplied with electricity from an electrical energy storage arrangement. The characteristic is used for the selection of an operating mode and/or for determining an operating point of the drive train. The characteristic is adapted by establishing partition boundaries that divide a range of states of charge into a plurality of regions, at least one of the partition boundaries can be variably determined during the operation of the vehicle; predetermining a profile of the characteristic depending on a state of charge of the energy storage arrangement, and online adaptation of the characteristic in the event of a shift of at least one of the variable partition boundaries.