Green vehicles set for debut at the LA Auto Show

(Toyota)

Automakers have been releasing previews of the green vehicles they intend to debut at the LA Auto Show this week, suggesting that this year's show is set to be more eco-friendly than ever.

Toyota confirmed November 10 that it will show its RAV4 electric vehicle (EV) concept on November 17, dropping the first teaser images of the greened revamp of its gas-guzzling SUV.

Developed in association with electric supercar maker Tesla, the RAV4 EV marks the launch of another green product line for Toyota, already known globally for its phenomenally-successful Prius Hybrid.

The United States launch is aimed for 2012, although Toyota die-hards will remember the company's first attempt at an electrified RAV4, which was produced on a limited scale between 1996 and 2003.

Approximately 1,900 of the vehicles were sold and many are actually still on the roads today, despite clocking up over 100,000 miles on the original batteries.

Honda is also set to unveil several new green vehicles, which will be introduced by the firm's CEO Takanobu Ito (perhaps significantly) for the first time.

The automaker has confirmed that one will be a new EV concept and the other will be a plug-in hybrid platform, demonstrating Honda's "continued commitment to developing advanced environmental technologies."

Fisker is also set to hold the North American premiere of the first factory-produced Fisker Karma at the show, a four-door extended range EV which claims an annual average economy of 100 mpg (2.4L/100 km) and emissions of 133g/mi (83g/km).

The Los Angeles Auto Show is open to the public November 19-28 in Los Angeles, California.

http://www.laautoshow.com