Abstract
Electric vehicles are characterized by having an electricity-powered motor whose energy comes from a battery or a fuel cell. A variety of health and environmental problems are linked to the emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion. These concerns, combined with the fluctuation in oil prices, have significantly boosted the electric vehicle sector in recent years to replace internal-combustion-engine vehicles, requiring the development of batteries that offer high autonomy and driver safety. Among these devices, lithium-ion batteries exhibit higher energy and volumetric density as well as a long life cycle. Thus, this work aims to conduct a literature review on lithium-ion batteries, evaluating their prospects and challenges. Additionally, the most recent data on electric vehicles in both Brazil and world will also be presented.