TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Components: The cathode current collector protective, conductive coating comprises carbon, graphite or a mixture comprising carbon and graphite. The cathode current collector protective, conductive coating is a composite further comprising a polymer. The cathode current collector protective, conductive coating is pure carbon or graphite. The anode active material and/or the lithium insertion transition metal oxide, phosphate, or sulfate are in a particulate form, where the particulate form is 1 to 100 micrometers in average equivalent spherical diameter. The cathode exhibits an upper charging voltage of 3.5 to 5 volts with respect to a Li/Li+ reference electrode. Preferred Cell: The electrochemical cell is charged to a lower voltage than the cathode material's typical or standard upper charging voltage.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The additive providing corrosion protection is LiBOB; or is a mixture of LiBOB and-LiPF6. The protective, conductive coating comprises conductive carbon or graphite. The protective, conductive coating has a thickness of less than 10 micrometers. The anode active material is a carbon species selected from graphite microbeads, natural graphites, artificial graphites, carbon fibers, and graphitic flakes. The lithium insertion transition metal oxide, phosphate or sulfate is selected from LiCoO2; spinel LiMn2O4; chromium-doped spinel lithium manganese oxides; layered LiMnO2; LiNiO2; LiNixCo1-xO2; LiNi1-x-yCoxMnyO2; vanadium oxides; LiFePO4; LiMnPO4; LiVPO4; and LiFeTi(SO4)3. The lithium insertion transition metal oxide, phosphate, or sulfate is a lithium insertion transition metal oxide selected from LiCoO2; LiMn2O4; LiNiO2; LiNixCo1-xO2; LiNi1-x-yCoxMnyO2 or its derivatives. The electrolyte solution comprises an organic carbonate. The organic carbonate is selected from ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and/or ethyl methyl carbonate. The concentration of the lithium compound in the electrolyte solution is 0.5 to 2 molar (preferably 0.8 to 1.2 molar). The lithium compound is CF3SO2N-(Li+)SO2CF3. The electrolyte solution is a solution of a lithium compound in an organic carbonate, where concentration of the lithium compound in the electrolyte solution is 0.1 to 2 molar; and the organic carbonate is selected from ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and ethyl methyl carbonate.x and y=0-1.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Components: The cathode current collector comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy.