A battery cooling system and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a cooling fan connected to a battery system and configured to control a flow speed of a coolant to flow into the battery system. A heat exchanger is connected to the cooling fan and configured to lower the temperature of the coolant. A control valve is configured to selectively supply the coolant to one of the heat exchanger and the cooling fan. And a controller is configured to compare a first temperature, which is the temperature of the air of the environment where the battery cooling system is located, with a first reference temperature and control the control valve based on the comparison.