H2Ti12O25 nanorods are successfully prepared via hydrothermal reaction following heat treatment at 260 degrees C. The D-50 value and surface area of H2Ti12O25 nanorods are 0.186 mu m and 35.0637 m(2) g (1), respectively. For comparison, Bulk-H2Ti12O25 are also prepared by milling assisted soft-chemical method, and the D-50 value and surface area of Bulk-H2Ti12O25 are 0.274 mu m and 4.3213 m(2) g (1), respectively. The electrochemical tests show H2Ti12O25 nanorods deliver higher reversible capacity of 191.3 mAh g (1) (1C) after 100 cycles, 150.5 mAh g (1) (10C) and 132.1 mAh g (1) (20C) after 200 cycles, while for Bulk-H2Ti12O25, its reversible capacity is only 171.2 mAh g (1) (1C) after 100 cycles, 113.7 mAh g (1) (10C) and 83.3 mAh g (1) (20C) after 200 cycles. Meanwhile, H2Ti12O25 nanorods exhibit better rate performance at all rates compared with Bulk-H2Ti12O25. The higher discharge/charge capacity and cycling stability at high discharge/charge rate powerfully suggests that H2Ti12O25 nanorods hold great potential as high rate anode material for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.