Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte composition for batteries, which is composed of a mixture of a fluorobenzene component and a carbonic acid ester component in which the volume ratio of the fluorobenzene component to the carbonic acid ester component ranges from 50:50 to 5:95. The non-aqueous electrolyte composition has a significant advantage over electrolyte compositions employing carbonic acid ester solvents only, in terms of low temperature performance, cell life, and high-temperature dischargeability.