A method for the switching of a number of battery cells in a battery which is configured as an electrochemical storage device, wherein each of the battery cells is electrically connected to the battery in accordance with a corresponding first probability P1i, and is electrically disconnected from the battery in accordance with a corresponding second probability P2i, and wherein the battery cells are mutually connectable in series. According to the method, a performance factor Gi is calculated for each battery cell as a sum of a function, which, specifically, is linearly dependent upon a state of charge LZi of the corresponding battery cell, and a second function which, specifically, is linearly dependent upon a product of a current value of a current which flows in the corresponding battery cell when the corresponding battery cell is electrically connected to the battery and the internal resistance of the corresponding battery cell.