Highly conducting, free standing polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared by gelification of an ethylene carbonate-propylene carbonate lithium methide solution in a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer matrix. The electrochemical characterization showed that these membranes have a room temperature conductivity of the order of 0.5 x 10(-3) cm(-1), an anodic break-down voltage exceeding 4.7 V vs. Li and good compatibility with the lithium metal electrode. These cm properties make these membranes of interest for the development of lithium metal and lithium ion batteries.