A liquid organic electrolyte system for lithium-ion cells with graphitic anodes containing the solvents ethylene sulfite (ES) and propylene carbonate (PC) has been studied. Even in additive amounts (5 vol %) ES is suppressing cointercalation of PC into graphite. The PC-ES electrolytes are characterized by a high oxidation stability allowing the cycling of a. LiMn2O4 cathode with good reversibility. Moreover, the good low temperature performance compared to ethylene carbonate-dimethyl carbonate electrolytes may favor PC-ES electrolytes for special applications, (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S0013-4651(98)05-056-3. All rights reserved.