A method for operating an output apparatus of a motor vehicle performed by the output apparatus and including receiving a first consumption signal that indicates a consumption relating to a first form of energy measured in a first unit of measurement, receiving a second consumption signal that indicates a consumption relating to a second form of energy measured in a second unit of measurement, providing at least one reference element that indicates a respective predetermined standard consumption, displaying the at least one reference element on a display unit, and controlling a position of a consumption display element on the display unit based on the two consumption signals and, as a result, adjusting a relative position of the consumption display element with regard to the at least one reference element.