A method for managing power limits for a battery includes the step of increasing a minimum operating state of charge after an initial power capability has decreased to the point where a predefined full discharge power is not available at an initial minimum operating state of charge. The increased minimum operating state of charge can be chosen such that the full discharge power is available. The increased minimum state of charge may not be chosen to provide the full discharge power if the increased minimum state of charge is greater than a maximum low limit state of charge.