This paper presents the results of experimental characterization of an automotive starting-lighting-ignition (SLI) valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) battery aimed at identifying a control-oriented lumped-parameter quasi-static battery model suitable for energy management and state-of-charge (SoC) estimation applications. For the purpose of battery model identification, a custom-built test setup comprising a current-controlled DC/DC converter has been utilized. The recording of the battery charge capacity vs. discharge current identification is based on the constant-current deep discharging tests, while the estimation of the battery equivalent circuit parameters (i.e. open-circuit voltage, polarization voltage and internal resistance) is based on triangular (saw-tooth) battery current profile and Kalman filter utilization. Thus obtained model parameters are then used to build a battery simulation model, which is finally validated against the experimental battery data.