Electrochemical　energy　devices　including　batteries,　supercapacitors　and　fuel　cells　are　reliable　and　practical　technologies　in　which　carbon-based　electrode　materials　play　critical　roles　in　enhancing　performance.　Because　of　this,　the　source　and　synthesis　of　these　carbon-based　materials　have　been　extensively　explored　and　developed.　And　of　the　various　carbon-based　materials,　biomass-derived　carbon　materials　and　corresponding　composites　have　been　recognized　to　be　capable　of　delivering　high　capacities,　enhanced　rate　performances　and　prolonged　cycling　stabilities　in　both　lithium-ion　batteries　and　supercapacitors　as　partially　induced　through　a　combination　of　favorable　pore　structures　and　heteroatom-doping.　In　addition,　biomass-derived　carbon　materials　can　provide　significantly　enhanced　activity　and　stability　for　cathode　oxygen　reduction　reactions　if　used　as　catalyst　support　materials　in　polymer　electrolyte　membrane　fuel　cells.　Based　on　this,　this　review　will　provide　a　comprehensive　assessment　as　well　as　critical　analysis　and　systematic　comparison　of　biomass-derived　carbon　materials　and　corresponding　composites　as　electrode　materials　in　various　electrochemical　energy　devices　based　on　recent　progresses　in　research　and　development.　In　addition,　related　technical　challenges　are　analyzed　and　possible　research　directions　are　proposed　to　further　development　for　practical　application.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd