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This is an assessment of Japanese High Speed Surface Transit (HSST) policy, vision, goals, and magnetic levitation development and commercialization technology. It includes an illustrated historical review of past HSST magnetic levitation vehicle developments, a review of the present status of HSST trains, and an outline of future HSST conventional magnetic levitation trains with speeds of 300 km/h for interurban and transcontinental service. Also described are: the start of construction of a new test track which includes the track switching mechanism designed for the Las Vegas HSST route in the United States; test operation execution for the practicalization of HSST-100 by the newly formed Chubu (Central Japan) HSST Development Corporation of Nagoya Railroad Company and HSST Corporation. These magnetic levitation electric trains have been under development since 1974 and are now considered ready for introduction into commercial service.

This is a descriptive review of the ceramics structural applications developed by Isuzu, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota and General Motors in spark ignition, Diesel and gas turbine automotive engines; new analytical procedures needed for the design of structural ceramics; new silicon nitride ceramics with strength of material properties approaching steel; new ceramics processing techniques which have been reduced to commercial practice in Japan on a mass production scale; and tests of vital structural components fabricated of these ceramics.

This is an assessment of alternative propulsion technology options presently under investigation for potential application to automobile propulsion in the 1990's. It includes a brief review of key aspects of the new US DOE National Energy Strategy, as recommended to the President in March 1991, and the impact on future automotive propulsion policy choices in the immediate future. Also considered is the impact of the decision by the California Legislature, in the 1990-91 State Budget, which directed the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to expand the assessment and policy support for improvements in transportation technology. In addition, key technical aspects of the prime mover options currently under development around the World are shown. Among these options are: ceramic piston engine dynamic structural components for conventional four-stroke engines, ceramic gas turbines, new two-stroke engines, and electric propulsion.

The US EPA 40CFR certification label fuel economy mpg for 114 model types of 1998 model year passenger vehicles marketed in the United States (US) by European. Pacific Rim, and American manufacturers, was correlated with fuel economy mpg test data obtained by the Consumers Union (CU) of US, Inc., a nonprofit, independent consumer information organization. The 114 model types range in curb mass (empty weight) from 916 kg (2015 lbs) to largest 2425 kg (5335 lbs). This correlation shows that the manufacturers US EPA label values overstate city mpg and understate the highway mpg significantly; in comparison to the CU city mpg and CU highway mpg test data, for the 114 model types of motor vehicles, reported by Consumers Union in 1998.