A method of operating an accessory drive system for a motor vehicle, wherein the accessory drive system includes one or more accessory components, a motor generator of the motor vehicle, and a flexible drive element configured to transmit a torque load between the one or more accessory components and the motor generator, includes determining a maximum permissible flexible drive element torque threshold, detecting an increase in torque demand on the flexible drive element, determining when the torque demand on the flexible drive element will exceed the flexible drive element torque threshold, and reducing the torque demand of one or more of the accessory components so that the flexible drive element torque threshold is not exceeded.