For decades Lead Acid batteries have been used in consumer and commercial vehicles as engine starter power sources, and backup power. Nickel-Cadmium technology offers longer life, fewer failure scenarios, better energy density, and better power to weight ratios than lead acid batteries, and with proper maintenance can last over 20 years. This project will consist of hypothesizing, designing, building, and testing a “drop-in” Ni-Cd battery for a Ram 2500 truck with a 6.7 liter Cummins engine. This proof of concept design will test the validity of Ni-Cd batteries in the heavy-duty truck and heavy-machinery market, comparing design chemistry, cost to market, maintenance, and battery lifetime.