Abstract: An SLI battery for use in vehicle applications includes a container, a positive plate and a negative plate disposed within the container, and a separator disposed within the container and separating the positive plate and the negative plate. The positive plate includes a frame, a lug, and a plurality of wires and is formed by book mold gravity casting. The plate is formed of a lead-based alloy consisting essentially of lead, tin in the range of greater than 0.5 percent to about 1.2 percent, calcium in an amount such that the ratio of tin to calcium of greater than 12:1, and silver in the range of greater than 0 to less than 0.015 percent, where the percentages are based upon the total weight of the alloy.