A hybrid drive for a motor vehicle having a thermal engine for operating with a hydrocarbon containing fuel suitable for generating hydrogen is shown. The hybrid drive includes a fuel storage tank, an energy storage device to store energy generated by the thermal engine and a drive motor whose operating state depends on the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device. The hybrid drive includes an AC/DC converter for producing and storing energy in the energy storage device prior to starting of a hybrid drive. A hydrogen storage device is operatively connected to a hydrogen-generating unit. The hydrocarbon containing fuel is used and stored for generating hydrogen at least one of prior to starting and operation of the hybrid drive for a motor vehicle. The thermal engine can be operated alternatively on hydrogen generated by the hydrogen-generating unit or hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage device.