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Given the goal of developing energy-optimized aircraft that employ increasingly higher power loads such as electric flight control actuation, directed energy weapon systems and on-demand cooling systems, advances in battery technology and associated integration methodology will be required to achieve a robust electrical power system design. Batteries based on various Lithium-Ion chemistry technologies represent a 50% improvement in both specific energy and specific power over legacy NiCad and Lead-Acid chemistries. However, along with these benefits come challenges in terms of overall safety, cost and availability. Safety considerations primarily include failure modes that result from the battery being subjected to short-circuit conditions and over-charge conditions. Cost and availability challenges arise primarily from one-off point designs and ensuing low production volumes, but also stem from limited marketplace competition.