A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a positive electrode housed in a case a negative electrode arranged in the case so that a separator is sandwiched between the positive and negative electrodes consisting of lithium or lithium-containing material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte contained in the case and prepared by dissolving an electrolytic salt consisting of lithium phosphate hexafluoride (LiPF.sub.6) or lithium borofluoride (LiBF.sub.4) in a solvent mixture consisting of ethylene carbonate, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, and at least one ester-based nonaqueous solvent selected from the group consisting of butylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, .gamma.-butyrolactone, and sulfolane.