The invention relates to an operating device (6) for controlling the operation of a motor vehicle (1) comprising an electric motor (2), according to at least three operating states. In a first operating state, the motor vehicle (1) is off; in a second operating state, the motor vehicle is on and the electric motor (2) is not controllable; and in a third operating state, the motor vehicle (1) is on and the electric motor (2) is in operation. The operating device (6) comprises a base operating element (9) for turning the motor vehicle (1) on and off, and a gear-shift operating element (13) for selecting a gear-shift step. The motor vehicle (1) can be switched from a first operating state to a second operating state simply by a signal from the base operating element (9) when the motor vehicle (1) is switched on, and the motor vehicle is switched from the second operating state to the third operating state by actuation of the gear-shift operating element (13) by selection of a gear-shift step associated with the third operating state.