From Family-Friendly EVs to Home Backup Power: Top Trends from the 2024 New York Auto Show

We visited the 2024 New York Auto Show, the oldest and largest event of its kind, to learn about the latest automotive trends. And guess what? Electric cars took center stage!

Here at Motor, we’re dedicated to staying on top of the latest EV developments, helping our community, from beginners to pros, navigate the world of EVs.

The New York Auto Show was a great chance for us to see what the world of EVs will look like this year and some glimpses into the future! Here are the main trends we think are interesting to look out for:

EVs for bigger families: the winner of the NY Auto Show

One of our highlights at the NY auto show was to see more electric 7-seaters!

The choice for bigger families to go electric has been limited. Options so far have been the Tesla Model X and the Mercedes-Benz EQB SUV, neither with a very spacious 3rd row. And more recently the Rivian R1S, while more spacious, is a pricier option.

We were thrilled to see two more large 3-row vehicles exhibited at the show. The 2024 Kia EV9 and the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz. In our community of EV drivers, we’ve seen an uptick in folks that want a 3-row EV, so we are happy we can recommend more options. Both EVs were very popular at the show, especially amongst families with small children.

The Kia EV9 won both 2024 World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle.

It comes in various trims with the standard range RWD version starting at $54,900 and 230 miles with a 76.1kWh battery.
Kia stands out with their 800V battery systems making fast charging especially efficient and this technology also transferred into the EV9.
Even though it does not qualify for the federal tax credit right now (Kia plans to begin US production by May to qualify for it early 2025), Kia is currently offering $7,500 in lease cash, as well as $7,500 in customer cash on all 2024 EV9 trims (status April 2024).
It was one of the stars for us – we managed to fit an adult quite comfortably in the third row, which made it feel thoughtfully designed and a really great functional option for larger families.

We were also very excited to see the all-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz, an icon and the first electric passenger minivan in the US coming in fall of 2024.

It can seat up to 7 people as well, and the RWD version has an estimated range of 260 miles with a 91kWh battery.
Price details to be released.
It does not have a frunk but a very spacious and modern looking interior style.
With its bright colors and nod to the iconic retro style, this vehicle was a big fan favorite at the show. It was hard to find a quiet moment to get inside!

Several other larger family EV options are on the horizon, including the Hyundai Ioniq 7, the Volvo EX90, the Lucid Gravity or the Cadillac Escalade IQ.

If you’d like help finding the right EV for you and your family, feel free to sign-up for a free purchase consultation with one of our EV experts, here!

Compact SUVs lead the charge!

A noticeable trend at the auto show was the focus on electric compact SUVs. Brands like Hyundai, Kia, VW, Subaru, Ford, Chevy, and Honda all displayed at least one electric 5-seater SUV, while the Nissan Leaf was the sole small EV.

We’ve definitely noticed this shift towards electric SUVs reflected in the preferences of drivers in our community. When we look at our EV drivers, a whopping 78% opt for compact/crossover SUVs, with popular choices including the VW ID.4 and Nissan Ariya.

So why are electric SUVs leading the charge? Simply put, people want them, and manufacturers are listening. Electric cars used to be seen as just fancy golf carts, but now they’re evolving to meet the demands of consumers. Electric SUVs are also practical to produce. Unlike sedan versions, SUVs have ample interior space and height, allowing for easy battery placement along the floor without compromising space inside.

Connecting home and car: EVs, solar and Vehicle-to-Grid V2G.

EVs are so much more than “just cars” getting us from A to B. They have the potential to become integral parts of our lives. They can serve as backup power for our homes or assist in managing energy consumption and electricity peak demands.

And all this was reflected in this year’s auto show. Many exhibits showcased “Vehicle-to-Home” and “Vehicle-to-Grid” technologies. What does that mean?

Vehicle-to-Home, or V2H, enables the energy stored in the EV’s battery to be discharged back into your home during times of need, such as during a power outage.
Vehicle-to-Grid, or V2G, extends beyond this by allowing EVs to feed electricity back into the grid. With V2G, you can charge your EV when electricity is cheap and discharge it when electricity demand is high. This not only helps stabilize the grid but can also present a business opportunity for you as the EV owner.

Hyundai Home: Hyundai demonstrated their home energy ecosystem, maximizing the benefits of EV ownership by charging from the sun and saving excess energy. Hyundai offers solar panels and energy storage systems that are compatible with their EVs and chargers, making it easier for Hyundai customers to electrify their homes.

Kia showcased a home display alongside the EV9, featuring the upcoming Wallbox bi-directional home system set to launch this year. Bi-directional charging means that electricity not only flows from the grid to your EV, but also the other way around. Kia’s system will provide both home-backup and vehicle-to-grid capabilities. And of course, Ford displayed their bi-directional capabilities next to the F-150 Lightning truck which can keep your home powered for up to a few days.

At Motor, we’re excited to see automakers expanding beyond traditional car sales to fully harness the potential of EV technologies. We’ve partnered with several utilities who provide incentives for home charger installations, special EV rates, and V2G programs. For instance, Green Mountain Power (GMP) in Vermont offers a V2G program, where EV batteries can store energy to help manage peak demand on the grid. We believe initiatives like these are crucial for enhancing grid stability and resilience.

Behind the wheel: Our experience with EV test drives at the show

The test drives at the auto show were a major hit! Thanks to EVs lack of exhaust they were set up indoors and it was amazing to see how many people were in line. Kia, VW, Chevy, Cadillac, Ford, Lexus, Lucid and Nissan all had EVs to drive in.

Even though our team drives electric every day, we were absolutely blown away to experience the full power of the EVs on the test track. We rode in the F-150 Lightning truck and Lucid. The course was designed to show off the benefits of EVs, including the thrilling acceleration and great handling due to the lower center of gravity.

Probably the most exciting part was seeing the look on peoples’ faces when they hopped out of the cars, and hearing the chatter about how impressive the cars were. You never forget your first ride in an EV!

We have recently shared an article about what to watch out for when test driving an EV, highlighting the features that are different as compared to a gas-powered car. In Motor’s community we regularly get feedback like “Without being able to try an EV, I believe I would have never bought my ID4. After this I feel like an expert.”

To round off, they had even set up a little Kid’s EV Drive Academy with small replica EVs for them to drive. It was really an experience for the whole family.

So, what does this mean for the near future of EVs?

From our perspective, the 2024 New York Auto Show showcased exciting developments in EVs, offering more choices for families and innovative home tech. With spacious options and compact SUVs, EVs are changing how we get around. And excitingly, automakers are listening to the needs of the customer and we’re starting to see that in the vehicles that are coming to market.

We’re thrilled to see these changes and even if New York is not your city, all these cars and technologies are will be available nation-wide.

It’s amazing to see more options than ever before, but it can make it feel a bit more daunting to choose which one, if any, are right for your and your life. Our team of experts have on-the-ground experience with almost all EVs available, and are here to help you evaluate if an EV, and which one works for you. Interested to learn more about our pre-purchase help? Learn more about EV Navigator, here!