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Yes, the auto industry is interested in ''green'' technologies, even if truly mainstream gasoline and diesel/electric hybrid vehicles and fuel-cell models may not hit the market in great numbers for years to come.

Aside from the RX 400h, Toyota plans to sell a hybrid version of its Highlander crossover utility and, at this week's Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the company is showing its FTX full-size gasoline-electric hybrid pickup truck concept.

Toyota is among the industry leaders in hybrid technology but others are also active.

Ford's Escape Hybrid SUV is selling briskly, as is the Toyota Prius. Honda is enjoying some success with its Civic and Accord Hybrids, and GM is offering a less sophisticated hybrid pickup.

As many as 50 hybrid nameplates could be on the market in five years, accounting for annual North American sales of 800,000 to 1 million units, according to a study by the Automotive Technology Research Group in Thousand Oaks, Calif. That would be a huge jump from 2004, when consumers purchased 85,000 hybrids.

But among those who question the viability of hybrids is Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. "We are not as bullish on hybrids as other people because the business case is not obvious," he says.

Nonetheless, Nissan will sell a hybrid version of its popular Altima midsize sedan beginning in 2006, with some help from a licensing agreement with Toyota.

"For many hybrid manufacturers today," he said in an interview at Detroit's auto show in January, "the costs are higher than the value. We're a little bit cautious. We believe there's a possibility to bring the value above the cost, but we're not there. And I doubt that anybody's there."

Here's what some other auto makers have shown of their green technology portfolio:

BMW H2R concept: a hydrogen-powered test car with a 285-horsepower 6.0-litre V-12 engine. Its carbon fibre-reinforced plastic body was designed by BMW's U.S. studio and has a minuscule 0.21 coefficient of drag. It will never go on sale.

GM Sequel concept: This all-wheel-drive crossover wagon seats up to five and runs on a hydrogen fuel cell driving three electric motors. The Sequel is the most realistic vision of a hydrogen fuel cell car from GM yet. Electronic systems control virtually every aspect of its operation, including a single electric motor that drives the front wheels and a motor mounted in the hub of each rear wheel. This concept will never be sold.

Volvo 3CC concept: This electric-powered concept car has 3,000 lithium-ion batteries and was named best design in a recent competition of alternative-fuel vehicles. It also got high marks for performance, energy efficiency and emissions. The 3CC uses batteries, but Volvo says the design can accommodate virtually any power source. Never for sale.

Opel Astra hybrid concept: This front-wheel-drive, five-passenger compact hatchback has a 125-horsepower 1.7-litre four-cylinder 16-valve dual overhead cam turbo-diesel and 30 kW and 40 kW electric motors integrated with its electrical variable automatic transmission. The diesel-electric power train is for Europe, but GM will use the same hybrid system with gasoline engines in North America beginning in 2007.

GMC Graphyte concept: This all-wheel-drive, five-passenger, gasoline-electric hybrid has a 300-horsepower 4.3-litre overhead valve V-8 with cylinder deactivation, two electric motors and four-speed automatic transmission. The Graphyte's hybrid drive train is very similar to what will power production models of the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe full-size SUVs in 2007, but this particular model will never go on sale.

Mercury Meta One concept: This full-size crossover wagon with hybrid diesel-electric drive train has a twin-turbo 2.7-litre 24-valve dual overhead cam diesel producing 248 horsepower and 431 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission with integrated 35-kW electric motor and twin hydraulic clutches rounds out the hybrid system. The styling hints at the crossover wagon Mercury will sell in 2006.