An operating system for a vehicle having an electric vehicle (EV) drivetrain and a plurality of electrically-powered accessories is described. A controller determines, via a navigation system, a target off-road trail segment, and characterizes the subject vehicle, ambient conditions, and the target off-road trail segment to determine an estimated consumption of electric energy for the vehicle to operate over the target off-road trail segment. The EV drivetrain and the electrically-powered accessories are controlled during operation of the vehicle on the off-road trail segment based upon the estimated consumption of electric energy for the subject vehicle. This is done to minimize a likelihood of a low SOC event for the DC power source for the trail segment and to avoid a low battery state at a location that is distal from a charging station.