Coke samples heat-treated between 1200 and 2800°C have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and their performance as electrodes for lithium batteries has been determined on coin cells with LiTFSI dissolved in EC/DMC as electrolyte. The data show that the electrochemical behaviour is strongly dependent on the structural characteristics of the carbon materials. It is shown that Mering's graphitization model can account for the values of reversible capacities measured for the different materials, as well as for the appearance of voltage plateaus for carbon heat-treated above 2000°C.