[1] When power is extracted continuously voltage decreases in a smooth curve, but the recovery effect can result in the voltage partially increasing if the current is interrupted.
[1][4] In some batteries, the gains from the recovery life can extend battery life by up to 45% by alternating discharging and inactive periods rather than constantly discharging.
[6] Even though the recovery effect phenomenon is prominent in the lead acid battery chemistry, its existence in alkaline, Ni-MH and Li-Ion batteries is still questionable.
For instance, a systematic experimental case study[7] shows that an intermittent discharge current in case of alkaline, Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries results in a decreased usable energy output compared to a continuous discharge current of the same average value.
This is primarily due to the increased overpotential experienced due to the high peak currents of the intermittent discharge over the continuous discharge current of same average value.