NOVELTY - The method comprises contacting an anode with a bath comprising a non-aqueous solvent and dissolved lithium halide salt in a continuous process, where a dry gas blanket covers the bath, providing an electrolytic field plate comprising an inert conductive material, where the field plate establishes a field between the anode and the field plate, applying a reducing current to the anode and an oxidizing current to the field plate, where lithium ions from the bath lithiate into the anode, and performing a pre-charging cycle upon the anode externally before the assembly of an electrochemical cell.    USE - The method is useful for lithiation of an anode, where the lithiated anode such as a foil is useful in a final assembly of a rechargeable battery or an electrochemical cell to provide the lithium needed for cycling when paired with a cathode not initially containing lithium (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The method allows lithiation of the anode in a continuous, an energy efficient and an economical manner thus improving specific capacity, specific energy, volumetric capacity density and volumetric energy density of the cell.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method comprises contacting an anode with a bath comprising a non-aqueous solvent and dissolved lithium halide salt in a continuous process, where a dry gas blanket covers the bath, providing an electrolytic field plate comprising an inert conductive material, where the field plate establishes a field between the anode and the field plate, applying a reducing current to the anode and an oxidizing current to the field plate, where lithium ions from the bath lithiate into the anode, and performing a pre-charging cycle upon the anode externally before the assembly of an electrochemical cell, where an evolving gas generated at the field plate is captured by a reflux unit, a membrane contactor and/or a gas scrubber. The reflux units, membrane contactors, gas scrubbers, baths, inline heaters, filters, salt dosing units, pumps, and/or valves are connected in a loop comprising series and parallel connections. The inline heaters heat the non-aqueous solvent and dissolved alkali metal halide salt to a temperature of 40 degrees C. A separate immersion bath is used to rinse the anode in a solvent. The salt is recovered periodically by distillation of the used non-aqueous solvent and subsequent rinsing of the salt in a light non-solvating fluid. A rate of the continuous process is increased and decreased. A rate of continuous lithiation of the anode and foil is increased and decreased. A rate of loop circulation is increased and decreased. The non-aqueous solvent contains an additive to facilitate high quality solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. A dissolved gas is added to the bath.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a schematic view of a SEI layer on carbon negative electrode.