An electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery comprising a non-aqueous solvent, and an electrolyte and a carbonic ester derivative both dissolved therein, said carbonic ester derivative having the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, provided that R.sup.2 may be a hydrogen atom and provided that R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be connected through a methylene group to form a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms.