Abstract: An apparatus for starting an electrically cranked engine includes a battery connection, a voltage increase circuit having an electrical input and output, and an electrical energy storage. The voltage increase circuit is connected at its input to the battery connection and at its output to the energy storage such that electrical energy at a relatively low voltage from a battery connected to the battery connection flows to the voltage increase circuit which increases the voltage of the electrical energy to a relatively high voltage, which then flows to the energy storage and is stored therein at the relatively high voltage. The voltage increase circuit may be a DC-to-DC boost converter. The energy storage is capable of storing electrical energy at about 12 V or 13 V, at least, or about 24 V or 25 V, at least, and may be capable of rapid charging and discharge.