Abstract: A lithium ion battery comprising a negative electrode, a non-aqueous solvent and a positive electrode having LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5 admixed with a conductive material. The conductive material is preferably carbon in an amount ranging from about 2 percent to 20 percent by weight of the positive electrode. Ten percent by weight is preferred. The LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5 is formed by discharging an admixture of V.sub.2 O.sub.5 and the conductive material in an electrochemical reactor with a lithium metal negative electrochemical and having an electrolyte salt in a non-aqueous solvent to reduce by one Faraday per mole of V.sub.2 O.sub.5 the admixture to convert all of the V.sub.2 O.sub.5. The cell is preferably discharged to about 2.8 volts to form the LiV.sub.2 O.sub.5 positive electrode which is then removed and formed into a predetermined electrode configuration for use as a positive electrode in a cell without lithium metal present.