Electrically powered vehicle and method for controlling the same

An electrically powered vehicle comprising:

• a power storage device storing electric power for generating driving force for a vehicle;
• an internal combustion engine;
• a power generation mechanism for generating charge power for said power storage device by electric power generation using an output of said internal combustion engine;
• a charging state estimation unit for estimating a remaining capacity of said power storage device based on a state value of said power storage device;
• and
• a charge/discharge control unit for controlling charging and discharging of said power storage device based on a remaining capacity estimate value obtained by said charging state estimation unit,
• said charge/discharge control unit including
• a charge instruction unit for, in a case where said remaining capacity estimate value falls below a predetermined lower limit value, controlling said internal combustion engine to be in a load operation state to generate said charge power and controlling said internal combustion engine to be in a no-load operation state or in a stopped state when it is determined that a prescribed charge termination condition is satisfied, and
• said charge instruction unit setting said charge termination condition such that a charging time for said power storage device is shortened as the charge power that can be received by said power storage device in a present state is decreased.