It operates on a small fraction of the power a house hold circuit. Modern cars have a 12 volt battery. A 56 hour battery should be able to deliver a current of 1 amp for 56 hours, or 2 amps for 28 hours. If the battery rout age drops, less current flows, and eventually their is not enough to make the components work.
The powerful electric starter motor does the turning. It's shaft carries a small pinion (gear wheel) which engages with a large gear ring around the rim of the engines fly wheel. The starter needs a heavy electric current.