A secondary battery is comprised of a positive electrode, a negative electrode formed from a carbon composition intercalating lithium reversibly and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte includes a lithium salt and a mixture of a low boiling point solvent having the boiling point of 150.degree. C. or lower and an organic solvent of vinylene carbonate or its derivative. The negative electrode may comprise a graphite, and the positive electrode may comprise a material being selected from a group consisting of metal chalcogen and metal oxide, such as V.sub.2 O.sub.5, TiS.sub.2, MoS.sub.2, LiCoO.sub.2, LiMnO.sub.2, LiNiO.sub.2, LiCrO.sub.2, LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 and LiFeO.sub.2. The low boiling point solvent may be selected from a group consisting of dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, 1,2-dimethoxy ethane, 1,2-diethoxy ethane and ethoxymethoxy ethane. The derivative may be provided by replacing at least one of two hydrogen atoms of the vinylene carbonate with one selected from a group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group and one halogen atom.