An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery, comprising: (i) a first additive having an oxidation potential from 4.1 to 4.6V, the first additive comprising at least one compound selected from the compounds represented by Formulae 1 and 2: where R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, and C 2 -C 6 alkylene groups; R4 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, -OOCR6 where R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, and C 2 -C 6 alkylene groups, and -OR7 where R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and C 2 -C 6 alkylene groups; and R5 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and C 1 -C 6 alkylene groups; (ii) a second additive having an oxidation potential from 4.4 to 5.0V, the second additive comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-(hexafluoro isopropylide)diphenol, 4,4-cyclohexylidene bisphenol; bisphenol S, and compounds represented by Formulae 5 to 13: where X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and F; R1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and alkylene groups; R2 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, and alkylene groups; R3 is selected from the group consisting of a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group or a C 2 -C 6 alkylene group; R4 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, and A is selected from the group consisting of SO 2, CH 2, C=0 and CF 2; wherein the oxidation potential of the first additive is from 0.1 to 0.7V less than the oxidation potential of the second additive and the oxidation potential is measured by linear sweep voltametry at 20°C to 25°C with a platinum working electrode, a lithium reference electrode and a lithium counter electrode; a non-aqueous organic solvent; and a lithium salt. (i) a first additive having an oxidation potential from 4.1 to 4.6V, the first additive comprising at least one compound selected from the compounds represented by Formulae 1 and 2: where R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, and C 2 -C 6 alkylene groups; R4 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, -OOCR6 where R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, and C 2 -C 6 alkylene groups, and -OR7 where R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and C 2 -C 6 alkylene groups; and R5 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and C 1 -C 6 alkylene groups; where R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, and C 2 -C 6 alkylene groups; R4 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, -OOCR6 where R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, and C 2 -C 6 alkylene groups, and -OR7 where R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and C 2 -C 6 alkylene groups; and R5 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and C 1 -C 6 alkylene groups; (ii) a second additive having an oxidation potential from 4.4 to 5.0V, the second additive comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-(hexafluoro isopropylide)diphenol, 4,4-cyclohexylidene bisphenol; bisphenol S, and compounds represented by Formulae 5 to 13: where X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and F; R1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and alkylene groups; R2 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, and alkylene groups; R3 is selected from the group consisting of a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group or a C 2 -C 6 alkylene group; R4 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, and A is selected from the group consisting of SO 2, CH 2, C=0 and CF 2; where X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and F; R1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups and alkylene groups; R2 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, and alkylene groups; R3 is selected from the group consisting of a C 1 -C 6 alkyl group or a C 2 -C 6 alkylene group; R4 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl groups, and A is selected from the group consisting of SO 2, CH 2, C=0 and CF 2;