Lithium ion battery (LIB) is considered the most promising energy storage system for applications in electrical vehicles (EVs). However, the large-scale market penetration of EVs has been impeded by several challenges, particularly the limited energy density, high cost and safety concern of cathodes in LIB. Conventional layered oxide LiCoO₂ (LCO) has been widely used in LIBs developed for consumer electronics, but the high cost of cobalt, low lithium utilization (~0.5 Li) has limited its application for EVs. To increase the driving range of EVs to over 300 miles at a single charge and promote the massive market penetration of EVs, low-cost electrode materials with high tap density, high-energy density, good rate capability, and long-term cycle life must be developed. Recently, Ni-rich layered structure cathode materials LiNi_xMn_yCo_zO₂ (NMC, x ≥ 0.6) have been receiving much attention as one of the most promising cathode materials for large scale applications owing to their high discharge capacity (200~220 mAh g^-1) and energy density (~800 Wh kg^-1) as compared to traditional LiCoO₂ (~570 Wh kg^-1). However, several technical challenges still exist with these Ni-rich NMCs due to their structural/interfacial instability and poor thermal stability. In this presentation, we will discuss several effective approaches, including lattice doping, grain boundary engineering, and use of novel electrolytes that enhance the structural/interfacial stability of Ni-rich NMC cathodes and significantly improved their long-term cycle life.