NOVELTY - Making (M1) positive electrode, involves coating a slurry on a collector, where the slurry is formed from an electrode formulation and liquid such that the slurry comprises particles dispersed within liquid; and drying coating on collector to form positive electrode, where the electrode formulation comprises at least one electrode active material, conductive carbon source, an organic polymeric binder and water-soluble polymer, and where the liquid includes a mixture of water and an alcohol, where the alcohol is present in an amount of less than 10 wt.%, based on the weight of the slurry.    USE - In secondary lithium ion battery including an automotive battery which is integrated into the framework of a vehicle (claimed); and used in vehicular contexts and other energy storage/expending applications (e.g. energy storage for an electrical grid).    ADVANTAGE - The method provides improved power sources for vehicles to increase the distance that such vehicles can travel without the need to recharge the batteries; improves the performance of batteries; and reduces the cost associated with the battery systems. The secondary lithium ion battery retains at least 50% of its capacity at IOC discharge rate (i.e. high discharge rate).    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Making (M1) a positive electrode, involves optionally forming a slurry of particles from an electrode formulation, an additive comprising an arene-capped polyoxoethylene surfactant, and a liquid such that the slurry comprises particles dispersed within the liquid, where the particles have a particle size distribution D50 of less than or equal to 15 microns; coating a slurry on a collector, where the slurry is formed from an electrode formulation and a liquid such that the slurry comprises particles dispersed within the liquid; and drying the coating on the collector to form the positive electrode, where the electrode formulation comprises at least one electrode active material, a conductive carbon source, an organic polymeric binder, and a water-soluble polymer, and where the liquid consists essentially of a mixture of water and an alcohol, where the alcohol is present in an amount of less than 10 wt.%, based on the weight of the slurry. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a secondary lithium ion battery, comprising a negative electrode formed using a first slurry produced using only water as a source of liquid, where the negative electrode is capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions; an electrolyte comprising a source of lithium ions; and a positive lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt electrode formed from a second slurry using only water, or a liquid mixture consisting of water and an alcohol, as a source of liquid, where the positive lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt electrode is capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions, and where the secondary lithium ion battery retains at least 50% of its capacity at a IOC discharge rate.