Right! it's actually a pulsating DC, almost a square wave, that can be stepped up with a transformer like AC. An ignition coil does essentially the same thing, stepping the 6 or 12 volts up to several thousand to fire the spark plugs. The buildup and collapse of the magnetic field causes voltage to be induced in a winding, and the more turns of wire in the coil, the higher the voltage will be.
Jerry