Lithium-ion starting-lighting-ignition batteries: Examining the feasibility

Rapid developments in the lithium-ion battery technology in the last decade have made it the overwhelming choice over lead-acid batteries, especially for advanced vehicles like hybrid and electric vehicles. However, for the traditional starting-lighting-ignition (SLI) application, the lead-acid technology continues to be dominant due to its low costs, despite its shortcomings. This could change in the future as a consequence of the introduction of newer, cheaper and safer lithium technologies. This paper examines the feasibility of using lithium-ion batteries for SLI application in conventional vehicles, over the lifetime of the vehicle, along with their battery management and thermal management systems and various related issues.