Hi John It's real, but, admittedly, still early days on pleasure boats. If anyone wishes, I'll seek permission from Nordhavn to reproduce the entire article written by Jim Kirby, but here's a synopsis: "Highly efficient hybrid systems have been the driving force for years in commercial craft such as ferries, tugboats, small warships, oil-platform supply vessels and research vessels... Now Pacific Asian Enterprises (Nordhavn) has taken the lead in adopting an advanced Siemens-developed version of this proven propulsion system to large yachts in the form of a proof-of-concept diesel-electric Nordhavn 72... Like its larger commercial cousins, the hybrid 72 uses its diesel engines to drive electric generators; there is no direct connection between the engines and propellers. The electricity that is then produced is used to power electric motors that drive the yacht's propellers... Dave Fulton, the electric 72's owner, says the system should give the boat tremendous range. He estimates that when running seven knots on the 200 horsepower engine, the yacht's 3,030 gallons of fuel could take it as far as 8,200 miles..." Dan Streech, PAE's President, says, "We envision 20 years from now it [hybrid power] could be so common that even 40 foot boats might have it." Cheers, Garrett