Accelerated cyclic aging tests are very important for research and industry to quickly characterize lithium-ion cells. However, the accentuation of stress factors and the elimination of rest periods lead to an apparent capacity fade, that can be subsequently recovered during a resting phase. This effect is attributed to the inhomogeneous lithium distribution in the anode and is observable with differential voltage analysis (DVA). We tested cylindrical 18,650 cells with Li(Ni_xCo_yAl_z)O₂-graphite/silicon chemistry during two cycling and resting phases. The capacity, the pulse resistance, the DVA, and the capacity difference analysis are evaluated for cells cycled at different average SOC and current rates. An apparent capacity loss of up to 12% was reported after 200 FCE for cells cycled under the presence of pressure gradients, while only 1% were at low-pressure gradients. The subsequent recovery was up to 80% of the apparent capacity loss in some cases. The impact of silicon cannot be estimated as it shows no features in the dV/dQ curves. We observe a recovery of apparent resistance increase, which is not reported for cells with pure graphite anodes. Finally, we demonstrate the strong impact of apparent aging for the lifetime prediction based on standard accelerated cyclic aging tests.

Accurate and rapid assessment of lithium‐ion battery lifetime is essential for predicting remaining lifespan, enabling the selection of appropriate cells for specific applications and determining suitability for second‐life use. However, accelerated cyclic aging tests may underestimate a cell's total lifespan due to exaggerated capacity fade that does not occur under real‐world conditions. This increased capacity fade is primarily driven by electrolyte motion induced salt inhomogeneity (EMSI) and loss of homogeneity of lithium distribution (HLD). This study investigates the impact of varying charge and discharge currents on capacity loss during accelerated testing in compressed NMC‐Gr pouch cells. Most of the capacity loss observed during cycling is fully recoverable after a resting period, with some cells regaining up to 81% of their lost capacity. Contrary to expectations, cells subjected to the highest cycling currents do not exhibit the greatest recoverable capacity loss. This phenomenon can be attributed to the interplay between current and temperature: While higher cycling currents exacerbate EMSI and HLD loss, they simultaneously elevate cell temperature, which mitigates EMSI by weakening polarization, enhancing electrolyte salt diffusion and homogenizing lithium distribution in the anode. Consequently, higher temperatures counteract HLD and EMSI‐effect and therefore reduce apparent capacity loss.