Recent trends in R&D on lithium battery technology in the USA continue to focus on high-performance batteries, polymer electrolyte systems and the development and production of batteries for specialty markets. Research on sol-gel derived amorphous vanadium and manganese oxides as high capacity, high-energy electrode materials has shown these morphologies are capable of reversibly intercalating very large amounts of lithium and they are attractive cathode candidates. Methods to improve the kinetics of these positive electrodes are showing promise.