Several cokes and graphites have been electrically and electrochemically characterized. The process of electrochemical lithium ion insertion into these materials has been analyzed for the purpose of assessing their performance as electrodes in advanced batteries and as potential candidates to substitute for lithium metal. The results obtained prove the process of electrochemical lithium ion insertion into cokes and graphites to be strongly influenced both by the ordered structure of the starting material and by the nature of the anion of the lithium salt, which is used as electrolyte.