An example cooling system for an electric includes an electric motor having a supply opening for receiving coolant and a discharge opening for expelling coolant. The discharge opening is connected to the supply opening via a coolant circuit including a first return line in which a heat exchanger is arranged, a bypass line, and a second return line. The discharge opening is connected to the supply opening by both the first return line and the bypass line, and the bypass line bypasses the heat exchanger arranged in the first return line. A battery is arranged in the second return line, and the second return line is selectively connected to a short-circuit line which causes coolant to flow from a point downstream of the battery and return to the second return line upstream of the battery. Further, a heat accumulator is arranged in the short-circuit line.