Vehicle control apparatus and vehicle control method

A vehicle control method comprising:

• determining a thermal load level at one or more of:
• a time point at which a first discharge amount of a battery exceeds a first reference value while an engine is in an OFF state;
• or
• a time point at which a second discharge amount of the battery exceeds a second reference value smaller than the first reference value and a discharge rate associated with the battery exceeds a third reference value while the engine is in the OFF state;
• and
• controlling a compressor, configured to receive power from the battery, using a control value corresponding to the thermal load level.

An apparatus comprising:

• an air conditioner configured to receive power from a battery;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• determine a thermal load level based on one or more of:
• a first discharge amount of the battery satisfying a first reference value while an engine is in a dormant state, wherein the engine is configured to operate a vehicle using a non-electric power source;
• or
• a second discharge amount of the battery satisfying a second reference value and a discharge rate associated with the battery satisfying a third reference value while the engine is in the dormant state;
• and
• control the air conditioner using a control value corresponding to the thermal load level.