Multi-cell, penalty minimizing discharging schemes were developed based on experimental data and high-level models in attempt to optimize discharge capacity and cycle life based on an unspecified optimal load current. Degradation due to high discharge current is well known, but the degradation behavior of the cell at low discharge current has not been thoroughly studied. To facilitate the implementation of the penalty method in multi-cell controllers, a physics-based pseudo-2D lithium ion model is used to investigate the degradation effects at low discharge current. The results of the model show that the optimal current, depending on the application, is not necessarily constant, but instead shows a 2-stage decrease within each discharge cycle. The optimal current also decreases as the cycle number increases. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.