Patent ID: 8660730

Claim:
A vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine; a catalyst device configured to be electrically heatable for purifying exhaust gas of said internal combustion engine; a first temperature detection unit for detecting a temperature of said catalyst device; a power storage device; a state-of-charge detection unit for detecting a state of charge of said power storage device; a second temperature detection unit for detecting a temperature of said power storage device; a catalyst power supply device receiving electric power from said power storage device and supplying said catalyst device with electric power for heating said catalyst device; and an electronic control unit having control logic configured to cause the electronic control unit to: calculate a first electric power that said power storage device can supply based on said state of charge of said power storage device and an output of said second temperature detection unit; and determine, according to an output of said first temperature detection unit, whether to cause said catalyst power supply device to supply said catalyst device with said first electric power, wherein if said first temperature detection unit detects that said catalyst device has temperature lower than a threshold value, the electronic control unit causes said catalyst power supply device to supply said catalyst device with said first electric power, and if said catalyst device has temperature higher than said threshold value, the electronic control unit causes said catalyst power supply device to supply said catalyst device with a voltage that can ensure insulation of an insulator holding said catalyst device, and electric power limited to be smaller than said first electric power.