It is tempting not to discuss the propulsion at the heart of the Adler
Suprema. After all, the boat is so easy to use it is easily forgotten, just as
the technology at the heart of a hybrid car quickly ceases to be the focus
of the driver’s attention. But the 75ft Adler Suprema came after the
hybrid technology within it. “This is maybe the first yachting brand that
started with the propulsion,” says Adler’s CEO, Philipp Pototschnik.
It all began with “a meeting of businessmen talking about ideas and
wishes. Why is yachting so loud, why do we always have to burn so much
diesel, why do we always have to have a generator running and why do
you always have this vibration?”
Adler Yacht’s founder Alexander Vagacs, a boat enthusiast, pilot and
CEO of Austria-based Avcon Jet, decided to develop a hybrid
propulsion system better than he could find, working with the
company’s experienced engineers and technology company TTTech.
“What makes it really unique is the easiness and the comfort of using
it,” Pototschnik says. The marine hybrid system, operated via a stylish
Böning interface, combines two moderately powered diesel engine
systems, two 200kWe electric motors connected to gearboxes driving
propellers via straight shafts and lithium polymer batteries. At anchor, a
full battery charge will operate all systems for 12 to 20 hours, depending
on outside conditions and AC use. Running on electric power, the Adler
reaches 10-11 knots. Top speed using the two Caterpillar C18s is 30 knots
theoretically, but the primary goals are long distance (roughly 3,500
nautical miles of range), comfortable cruising and peace at anchor.
Once the entrepreneurs decided to build a vehicle for their hybrid
system, they did not leave the packaging to chance. The first Adler
Suprema was launched as a fully evolved prototype to showcase the
LOA: 75' 9"
LWL: 65' 3"
Beam: 19' 9"
Draft: 5' 8"
Gross tonnage: 54GT
Fuel capacity: 1,370 gallons
Water capacity: 230 gallons
Construction: Composite/carbon fiber
Engines: 2 x Caterpillar C18 +
170kW lithium polymer battery +
2 x 200kW emotors
Max speed: 30 knots
Cruising speed: 15-22 knots
Guests: 6
Price: From $3.87 million
w: adleryacht.comAdler Suprema
The Adler Suprema
can reach 11 knots
under electric power
and 30 knots using its
Caterpillar enginesWORDS Cécile Gauert