A portable hybrid lighting system comprising: a control system having at least one controller; at least one light system operatively supported by a mast and operatively connected to the control system; an internal combustion engine having a power generator, the ICE operatively connected to the control system and the ICE power generator for generating electrical power; a battery storage system operatively connected to the control system, the battery storage system for storing electrical power from the ICE and providing battery power wherein the control system has means for: a) monitoring a current state-of-charge within the battery storage system; b) turning on the ICE to generate electrical power when the current SOC is below a lower SOC threshold or based on an operator programmed start time; c) turning off the ICE when battery power is above an upper SOC threshold or when an operator programmed runtime has been achieved; d) directing ICE power to charge the battery system between the lower and upper SOC thresholds or operator programmed runtimes; and e) directing ICE or battery power to the light system if required; wherein the control system is configured to control charging of the battery storage system by the ICE by applying a battery charging algorithm in which the upper and lower SOC thresholds are within the bulk stage of the battery system such that the battery charging algorithm only charges the battery system according to a bulk charging cycle within the bulk stage of the battery system. a control system having at least one controller; at least one light system operatively supported by a mast and operatively connected to the control system; an internal combustion engine having a power generator, the ICE operatively connected to the control system and the ICE power generator for generating electrical power; a battery storage system operatively connected to the control system, the battery storage system for storing electrical power from the ICE and providing battery power wherein the control system has means for: a) monitoring a current state-of-charge within the battery storage system; b) turning on the ICE to generate electrical power when the current SOC is below a lower SOC threshold or based on an operator programmed start time; c) turning off the ICE when battery power is above an upper SOC threshold or when an operator programmed runtime has been achieved; d) directing ICE power to charge the battery system between the lower and upper SOC thresholds or operator programmed runtimes; and e) directing ICE or battery power to the light system if required; a) monitoring a current state-of-charge within the battery storage system; b) turning on the ICE to generate electrical power when the current SOC is below a lower SOC threshold or based on an operator programmed start time; c) turning off the ICE when battery power is above an upper SOC threshold or when an operator programmed runtime has been achieved; d) directing ICE power to charge the battery system between the lower and upper SOC thresholds or operator programmed runtimes; and e) directing ICE or battery power to the light system if required; wherein the control system is configured to control charging of the battery storage system by the ICE by applying a battery charging algorithm in which the upper and lower SOC thresholds are within the bulk stage of the battery system such that the battery charging algorithm only charges the battery system according to a bulk charging cycle within the bulk stage of the battery system.