Apparent vs. true battery aging: Impact of various load characteristics on accelerated aging tests

Vehicle applications involve highly dynamic and variable operating conditions. These result from changing driving profiles and diverse driving behaviors. To accelerate battery aging tests, experiments are often based on constant load cycles. While efficient, this approach distorts the natural degradation behavior of the cells. This study compares cell aging under real-world and laboratory load conditions. For this purpose, we compare realistic driving profiles measured in a test vehicle in the field with synthetic constant power cycles. Average discharge power and charging sequences are kept identical for comparability. Results show that constant power cycles cause stronger cell aging than dynamic loads. Differential voltage analysis indicates more lithium inventory loss and active material loss at the negative electrode under static loads. Static loading also leads to strong inhomogeneity in the negative electrode and altered charge transfer and diffusion kinetics, as shown by impedance data. After 15 months of rest, the cells recovered up to 52 % of lost capacity and 66 % of the resistance increase. Impedance assessment and differential voltage analysis confirm the recovery and rehomogenization of the negative electrode. These findings show that conventional accelerated tests are strongly influenced by relaxation and load dynamics. As a result, their applicability to specific use cases, such as automotive applications, is strongly limited. Therefore, andraditional test strategies require reconsideration and redesign.