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.

President Obama has made it official. The United States fuel economy standards are being increased starting in 2012, which edges up the current standards by 5% a year to a fleet average of 35.5 MPG in 2016. This makes the CAFE law passed by Congress in 2007 – which required new vehicles an average fuel economy of 35 mpg in 2020 – relatively useless. These New American Fuel Economy Standards should also bring with it a reduction of 900 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions.

From the White House press release:

“In the past, an agreement such as this would have been considered impossible,” said President Obama. “That is why this announcement is so important, for it represents not only a change in policy in Washington, but the harbinger of a change in the way business is done in Washington. As a result of this agreement, we will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years. And at a time of historic crisis in our auto industry, this rule provides the clear certainty that will allow these companies to plan for a future in which they are building the cars of the 21st century.”