The electrochemical behavior of Li-graphite intercalation anodes in ethylene and diethyl carbonates (EC-DEC) solutions was studied using surface sensitive Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and impedance spectroscopy in conjunction with standard electrochemical techniques. Three different solvent combinations, four different salts : LiBF4, LiPF6, LiClO4, and LiAsF6, and the influence of the presence of CO2 were investigated. Graphite electrodes could be cycled hundreds of times obtaining a reasonable reversible capacity. The best electrolyte was found to be LiAsF6 and the presence of CO2 in solutions considerably increased the reversible capacity upon cycling. This improved performance is due to precipitation of the ethylene carbonate reduction product, (CH2OCO2Li)(2), which is an excellent passivating agent, on the electrode surface. Aging processes of these surface films and their influence on the electrode properties are discussed.