Improved nonaqueous electrolytes have been developed for lithium ion batteries. The electrolytes comprises a lithium salt, a nonaqueous carbonate solvent, and an additive mixture comprising at least one group A compound, at least one group B compound, and at least one group C compound wherein the group A compound is selected from the group consisting of VC and PES, the group B compound is selected from the group consisting of MMDS, DTD, TMS, ES, and PS, and the group C compound is selected from the group consisting of TTSP and TTSPi. Certain ternary or quaternary additive mixtures can: reduce parasitic reactions at the positive electrode above 4.1 V compared to use of VC alone; increase the thermal stability of a charged graphite electrode at elevated temperature; improve coulombic efficiency; and also reduce impedance of the batteries. These factors all suggest longer lived, safer, higher power lithium batteries with better tolerance to high voltages which will improve energy density.