A lithium battery including an anode having an active anode material, a cathode having an active cathode material. The cathode material includes lithium nickel cobalt manganese cobalt oxide (NCM). An electrolyte separates the anode and cathode. The electrolyte includes a solvent or solvent mixture and lithium hexafluorophosphate, and a germanium organyl-based electrolyte additive. Also disclosed are uses of the germanium organyl-based electrolyte additive in the lithium battery for enhancing one characteristic selected from the group consisting of reversible capacity, Coulombic efficiency, cyclic stability and combinations thereof.