In recent years, energy conservation policies and environmental protection issues are more and more important. Fuel consumption and carbon emission regulations are becoming increasingly stringent. The importance of pure electric vehicle development cannot be underestimated. The power system of the electric vehicle can be designed according to different use occasions. Whether it is a single motor with a transmission system, or a dual-motor independently controlling left and right wheels, or even four sets of four-wheel motor independent control, the power demand of the vehicle can be achieved. So the evaluation and analysis of the adaptive electric vehicle powertrain architecture could be a research topic. This article introduces overview of the design process of electric vehicle powertrain, and sorts out common types including advantages and disadvantages of electric vehicle powertrain configuration. It can be used as a reference for the evaluation and analysis of electric vehicle powertrain architecture.