In this study, bisphenol A polyetherimide was sulfonated to various degrees (22, 48, and 62%) by trimethylsilylchlorosulfonate (TMSCS). Novel anhydrous proton conducting polyelectrolytes were prepared by the incorporation of 1H-1,2,4-triazole (Taz) as proton solvent in sulfonated polyetherimide (SPEI) matrix. The conductivity reached about 2 x 10(-3) S/cm at 80 degrees C and 10(-2) S/cm at 140 degrees C. The temperature dependence proton conductivity of the polyelectrolytes followed Arrhenius equation. The conductivity improved considerably at a temperature close to the triazole melting temperature in SPEI(X)H matrix. It was proposed that the high mobility of the triazolium ions (vehicle diffusion), in addition to structure diffusion, contribute to the high conductivity of these proton conducting electrolytes above the melting temperature of triazole. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2178-2187, 2009