{
  "abstract": "Fast charging provides convenience for electric vehicle users but can accelerate Li-ion battery degradation and compromise lifetime energy utilization. Here, we investigate how fast-charging protocols govern first- and second-life performance of commercial 20 Ah NMC442/graphite pouch cells. A six-step 3C protocol (P6C2R1) completed 1009 first-life recorded cycles with >84.7% state of health (SOH) and limited resistance growth. Cells previously subjected to P6C2R1 subsequently demonstrated extended second-life cycling, including 1000 service cycles at 0.5C with ~80% SOH. Post-mortem scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed reduced electrode deterioration, smaller structural changes, and a comparatively LiF-rich graphite interphase under multi-step fast charging (MS-FC). Increasing relaxation steps systematically delayed the onset of accelerated aging, while exploratory correlation analysis indicated that first-life aging trajectories contain information about subsequent second-life behavior beyond retirement SOH alone. Across measured first- and second-life operation, P6C2R1 delivered 64.6 kWh of cumulative discharge energy, 89% more than continuous fast charging. These results establish lifetime-aware MS-FC as a practical strategy for balancing charging speed, degradation, and second-life value in commercial lithium-ion batteries.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA",
    "Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shu-Ting Ko",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2603-7154"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yuhong Fu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1315-2391"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Cruz Gonsalves"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ziting Ma",
      "orcid": "0009-0007-3063-9007"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Max Gonsalves"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Aiden William Koenig-Russell"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Chunting Chris Mi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5471-8953"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lingping Kong",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-9171-3253"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/43mqe9xtzm42p.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/batteries12100403",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "43mqe9xtzm42p",
  "issns": [
    "2313-0105"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/12/10/403",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2203|Advanced Battery Technologies Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221182417",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-07",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/43mqe9xtzm42p.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:47Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/batteries12100403",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/12/10/403"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "issn:2313-0105",
      "subfield": "electrochemistry-energy"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Multi-Step Fast Charging of Commercial NMC/Graphite EV Pouch Cells: First-Life Extension, Degradation Mechanisms, and Second-Life Performance",
  "title_text": "Multi-Step Fast Charging of Commercial NMC/Graphite EV Pouch Cells: First-Life Extension, Degradation Mechanisms, and Second-Life Performance",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:47Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/43mqe9xtzm42p",
  "venue": "Batteries",
  "versions": []
}