12v battery may not be enough to start
I see a distinct advantage to having more than 12V for starting. Aside from cranking, many ignition boxes need a full 12V to output anything.
When cranking, it is not uncommon for a battery's voltage to drop below 12V.
In this case you will have hard starting when using many popular ignition boxes. Newer computer controlled vehicles are even more sensitive to voltages below 12V.
What if you could run the starter/alternator, ignition, headlamps, fans and fuel pumps on the higher voltage and then regulate that down to 12V for the rest of the vehicle?
This should be easy, as most these devices should use relays because of their current demands. The relays could just source +16 rather than +12.
With a system like this the 12V should be rock steady at +12.6V or whatever you set it to, as there would be very little draw on the +12V side.
Am I missing something? Roy
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