The acceleration of global industrialization makes the world's energy shortage a barrier to economic and social development. Electric batteries are one of the major energy sources for new energy vehicles. This Review summarizes the structure model, design method and conduction mechanism of electric batteries; it analyzes the electrode state, conductivity, and electric structure. Critical for the energy storage, conversion, transmission and recovery of new energy vehicles, electric batteries are expected to meet the growing demand for electric energy density. There is an urgent need for fast-charging batteries and nanoelectrode systems with high capacity and energy density. Higher capacity electric batteries require electrodes to have more channels to transfer charges as well as an efficient transport structure to transport ions. New battery structures and nano energy systems are necessary to enhance the performance of batteries. This Review generalizes the progress of main battery applications in electric vehicles; furthermore, it discusses the development of electrode model, battery structure theory and energy system evolution. The focus of this Review is placed on the design method, mechanisms for energy storage, conversion and transmission and nanostructures. Application prospects of electric batteries in the field of electric vehicles and future research directions are also provided.