<div class="htmlview paragraph">There are two well known basic concepts for achieving magnetic levitation of vehicles: one is based on electromagnetic attraction (EMA); and the second method is based on electrodynamic repulsion (EDR). In turn, each of these concepts have at least two variations (<span class="xref">1</span>, <span class="xref">2</span> and <span class="xref">3</span>)<span class="xref">¹</span></div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper presents a third form of magnetic levitation known in the USSR as the Magnetic Potential Well (MPW) developed by Kozoriz (<span class="xref">4</span>), and in the West as Laithwaite's Magnetic River (<span class="xref">14</span>). The MPW effect is based on a dc circuit and exhibits characteristics whereby: the magnetic attraction force passes through a null, before the distance becomes zero, and changes to magnetic repulsion, as a function of interval separating a superconductive (SC) dc electric circuit and a second dc electro and/or permanent magnet, and/or two-wire dc line pair of infinite length.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">In a gravity field, a MPW vehicle exhibits stable static magnetic levitation distances of about one-half meter at zero vehicle velocity, either above or below a guideway, with inherent vertical pitch control; and, also inherent lateral yaw control because a null-flux exists laterally also. Furthermore, this MPW null-flux and magnetic force reversal becomes the basis for a unique linear traction motor, through an efficient reversible energy transformation between the magnetic potential energy of a SC circuit and vehicle kinetic energy.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">The scope of this paper is limited to abbreviated reviews of the known concepts of EMA and EDR and an explanation of the MPW concept; and, by comparisons, demonstrates the applications of MPW to high speed levitation and propulsion in the USSR. A companion paper (<span class="xref">5</span>) derives the mathematical relations needed to reduce the MPW concept to design practice in high speed transit applications, but is limited in scope to final forms of the equations only.</div>