An energy-saving battle is heating up in the electric-appliance industry of Japan ahead of April revisions to legislation governing power conservation and the tougher targets these changes will impose. Refrigerators are among the products that must meet tougher energy-saving criteria. As a result, the rush to bring out new refrigerators by spring is linked to the energy-saving race. Hitachi Ltd. has introduced technology from bullet-train motors to new refrigerators.