Mercedes-Benz has filed a lawsuit against Cobasys LLC saying that the company isn’t delivering the batteries it promised for the upcoming Mercedes-Benz ML 450 hybrid. The issue could cause a delay in the launch of the ML 450 hybrid which is scheduled to arrive on the market in late 2009.
Cobasys, which supplies batteries for GM’s mild-hybrid sedans, is a joint venture between Energy Conversion Devices Inc and Chevron Corp. GM was close to buying Cobasys back in June but no final deal was announced.
Cobasys could not be reached for comment but according to Automotive News, the company said early July that it had stopped producing batteries for Mercedes-Benz because it had not been paid and that it had not agreed to produce batteries for Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz however says that it paid about $6 million for the battery development and that Cobasys had agreed to produce and deliver the batteries.
The Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid will use the two-mode system co-developed with GM and BMW. The vehicle will combine a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine, two electric motors and a 288-volt battery pack to produce 321 horsepower. Fuel efficiency is forecast at 30.5 mpg, slightly better than today’s ML 320 diesel (available in 45 states). M-Class SUVs offer two rows of seats to accommodate five adults. As a full hybrid, The ML 450 can drive solely on electric power for brief periods, and uses a stop-start function to save fuel at a stand still.
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