700 lucky drivers in 7 US cities will soon have a chance to put BMW’s new EV coupe through its paces.

700 lucky drivers in 7 US cities will soon have a chance to put BMW’s new EV coupe through its paces. If you can afford $2,250 down and $499 a month, you may get to lease one of these babies starting in early 2012.

The ActiveE, an all-electric version of the 1 Series Coupe, has a lithium-ion battery pack and a 170hp electric motor, and claims to offer a 100-mile range and a charge time of only four to five hours, thanks to an extra-fast 7.7-kWh onboard charger.

The leased coupes will serve as a field trial for BMW, which plans to launch several EV models in 2013 and beyond. Their i3 and i8 concepts have both made their debuts at auto shows. Many of the components of the Active E are to be incorporated into the i3.

Image: BMW