Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for operating a battery device having a number of battery cells arranged in a battery housing. The method may include: detecting a fluid concentration of a predetermined fluid in an interior of the battery housing;
comparing the detected fluid concentration to a specified concentration threshold; adapting a maximum admissible operating temperature of the battery device if the detected fluid concentration exceeds the concentration threshold; and operating the battery device such that the maximum admissible operating temperature is not exceeded.