With plug-in electric cars about to hit the U.S. market in droves soon (Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, we’re looking at you), the EPA has finally come out with some proposed fuel economy window stickers for plug-in electric cars.

There are currently two designs which both share the same kinds of information, just with a difference layout. What the plug-in EV fuel economy stickers have in common is the added information that comes along with the complexity of electric vehicles.

Among the additional data elements is a field for greenhouse gas emissions. These will however, only cover emissions that come from the tailpipe, which is understandable since grid emissions might be a little tricky to pin down.

There will also be an area that shows fuel/energy consumption in terms of gallons per 100 miles and/or kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. Plug-in hybrid stickers will also feature a set of mpg numbers as well as a composite/equivalent number that reflects energy usage while the battery is charged and while it’s depleted.

The new fuel economy window stickers also come with a QR code that lets shoppers scan it to make quick comparisons on vehicles.

Charles Lane of the Washington Post tore into the Chevy Volt recently, decrying it as a waste of resources and part of the reason why GM is in such dire financial straights.

Lane’s main points against the Volt focus on the cost of its production and the belief that it’s price tag won’t be balanced out by savings on gas without the cost oil skyrocketing.

He also pleads with the Obama Administration to keep itself from investing tax payer money into completing the Volt.

There has been a great deal of speculation on the Chevy Volt on both sides of the fence about how well it will sell. Hopefully we will at least see it produced if for no other reason than to see who was right.

What are your thoughts? Is the Chevy Volt GM’s life preserver or is it their pair of concrete shoes?

AFS Trinity loves to boast about its Saturn Vue-based Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. Since AFS Trinity launched last year it’s been making a lot of noise about this hybrid with claims of it being capable of 150mpg.

AFS Trinity applied for some of the Department of Energy’s $2.5 billion in loans back in January to put towards opening an auto plant that had been closed.

Now, more recently, AFS took their show on the road and showed off their Saturn Vue-based Plug-in Hybrid along with its 16 kWh lithium-ion battery packs and ultracapictorrs.

Accroding to the NY Times, AFS is seeking $40 million from the DOE – a sufficient sum for building 100 cars. From there they hope to springboard into a $200 million production of 1,000 more plug-in hybrids. The final stage of their plan sees a $1.3 billion investment into retooling an old GM plant to build hundreds of thousands more. If everything goes according to plan they expect to sell the Saturn Vue hybrids for just $8,000 more than the gas-powered version.