Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle, having a cooling air duct disposed within a battery to move cooling air for cooling the battery, so as to enable same to be compact and improve space utilization, in order to optimize cooling performance within a limited space. The vehicle of the present invention also includes a battery-cooling unit that exchanges heat and cools air ventilated from the passenger compartment and then supplies the air to the battery, so as to use the air from the passenger compartment with minimal effects on the air temperature in the passenger compartment, and more efficiently cool the battery. Further, the vehicle and method for controlling same according to the present invention can detect the temperatures of the battery and of the passenger compartment, and determine whether to cool the air in the passenger compartment using a heat exchanger in accordance with each detected temperature, or control the rotation speed of a ventilation fan, in order to more efficiently cool the battery.