Patent ID: 6904342

Claim:
A control apparatus for use in a vehicle for controlling a first energy storage device adapted to selectively discharge electric power to (a) an electrical device adapted to be driven with the electric power, and (b) a second energy storage device, comprising: a temperature sensor that measures a temperature associated with the first energy storage device; and a voltage control unit that sets a minimum storage voltage of the first energy storage device to a first voltage level when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined temperature, the first voltage level being higher than a second voltage level to which the minimum storage voltage is set when the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, wherein the voltage control unit controls the quantity of electric power discharged from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device so as to control a remaining voltage of the first energy storage device to at least the minimum storage voltage so that sufficient voltage is available to drive the electrical device.