Battery power is one of the most important sources of energy for vehicles that do not produce harmful gases, electric vehicles. These electric vehicles are also capable of taking advantage of the electric grid to recharge at night. Scientists worldwide are searching for practical battery designs and electrodes with high cycling stability for electric vehicles by combining nanotechnology with surface coating technologies. Multiple tests have been performed upon lithium-ion batteries; however, new research is focusing on aluminum-ion batteries. The production and application of this form of battery technology is expected to improve greatly in the future. This Review summarizes the recent highlights in the energy industry as well as our laboratory work regarding lithium-ion and aluminum-ion batteries. The focus of this work is on battery structure models and nanoscale analysis technologies. Furthermore, this Review outlines the challenges that exist in producing cheaper and more accessible batteries by examining the energy storage and transmission principles of these new batteries. The structure and size effects of nanoparticles allows, as well as probes on the thermodynamic mechanism for mediating lessened battery performance due to heat expansion of the nanostructure. Finally, this Review looks at batteries and electrodes of electric vehicles as objects, commenting on the design ideas and feasibility of new battery technologies.