The electrochemical behavior of Li-graphite intercalation anodes in ethylene and diethyl carbonates (EC-DEC) solutions was studied using surface sensitive Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and impedance spectroscopy in conjunction with standard electrochemical techniques. Three different solvent combinations, four different salts: LiBF{sub 4}, LiPF{sub 6}, LiClO{sub 4}, and LiAsF{sub 6}, and the influence of the presence of CO{sub 2} were investigated. Graphite electrodes could be cycled hundreds of times obtaining a reasonable reversible capacity. The best electrolyte was found to be LiAsF{sub 6} and the presence of CO{sub 2} in solutions considerably increased the reversible capacity upon cycling. This improved performance is due to precipitation of the ethylene carbonate reduction product, (CH{sub 2}OCO{sub 2}Li){sub 2}, which is an excellent passivating agent, on the electrode surface. Aging processes of these surface films and their influence on the electrode properties are discussed.