Lithium batteries are receiving considerable attention as storage devices in the renewable energy and sustainable road transport fi elds. However, low-cost, long-life lithium batteries with higher energy densities are required to facilitate practical application. Here we report a lithium-ion battery that can be cycled at rates as high as 10 C has a life exceeding 500 cycles and an operating temperature range extending from − 20 to 55 ° C. The estimated energy density is 260 W h kg − 1 , which is considerably higher than densities delivered by the presently available Li-ion batteries.