The Detroit Auto Show is just a few weeks away, and already manufacturers are beginning to preview their wares. It’s clear green cars and trucks will dominate this year’s gathering in the great white north, with BMW and Volvo showing off EVs that look remarkably production ready. BMW’s decision to join the EV race is something of a surprise considering how hard the German manufacturer has pushed clean diesel as a healthy alternative to battery power, but the ActiveE Concept makes it clear the company isn’t playing around. Based on the 1-Series, the ActiveE makes use of a lithium-ion battery pack and produces 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.

The whole get-up charges in around 4.5 hours from a special U.S. wall box. The ActiveE isn’t exactly a featherweight, though. The car hits the scales at a portly 3,900 lbs, and as such 0-60 takes about nine seconds. Range is about 100 miles.

Meanwhile, Volvo has given its C30 the electric treatment with the C30 Battery Electric. The company says it plans to build at least 50 of the cars for road testing, which means the Swedish carmaker is getting serious about putting EVs in its showrooms. An electric motor good for 111 horsepower gives the Battery Electric its grunt – good enough to get the hatch to 60 in around 10.5 seconds. Volvo says it has limited the car’s top speed to 81 mph to increase range. So just how far can you go? Try around 95 miles. Not too shabby.

Sources Volvo and BMW