The work aims to control the temperature of Li-ion batteries for vehicles, in order to ensure the safety and reliability of EV during its use. Based on the maximum temperature, service life, and maximum temperature difference of batteries, various types of battery thermal management system (BTMS), such as air cooling, liquid cooling, phase change material cooling, micro-channel/micro-heat pipe cooling, and heating methods were reviewed and analyzed. Compared with conventional cooling methods such as air cooling, liquid cooling, phase change materials and heat pipes, and new thermoelectric cooling methods, BTMS based on micro-channels, micro-channel cold plates and micro-channel heat pipes had more excellent heat transfer performance. It had become a feasible and effective thermal management solution. However, BTMS had problems such as complex overall structure, inadequate research on heat transfer details, weak practicability, and insufficient research on related enhancements for micro-channels. Based on the research of micro-channel liquid-cooled BTMS, researches on enhanced heat transfer and mechanical strength of the structure can significantly promote the heat transfer performance and structural strength of BTMS and the overall system. It has better temperature control effect on Li-ion batteries and improves the safety and reliability of EV.