NEW YORK: Perusing the halls of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) usually means watching robot dogs dance and checking out the latest TVs amid the dull roar of the ever-present crowd. Those things still happen at CES.

       At this year’s show in Las Vegas, though, you can ride e-bikes, learn about cutting-edge battery manufacturing techniques and see how your home could be completely electrified.

       “Consumer tech” and “climate change” are not synonymous. Or at least they weren’t. But with a worsening climate crisis, more government incentives and pressure from buyers for electrification, that’s shifting. Limor Schafman, a director at LG Nova, said that two years ago at CES, electrification was starting to appear.

       “There were companies mentioning it, but now everyone is talking about it,” she said.How all this cleaner tech might find its way into the average household depends on which corner of the trade show floor you’re perusing.

       Companies, including Honda and Kia, brought futuristic electric concept cars to CES.

       Segway is debuting its first e-bikes, including one that’s like a motorcycle with pedals – and as fun to ride as it sounds.

       And companies, including Siemens, are pitching an array of new tools designed to help homes manage all the new electric appliances being plugged in.

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       The show also features a surprise star in green hydrogen, with multiple companies laying out their plans to make and use it.

       Of course, even a robust CES presence is no guarantee of future consumer uptake or that products will deliver on their promise and individuals will need to keep an eye out for greenwashing. But CES does reveal some of the biggest trends and – critically for climate tech – how they’re being marketed to individuals.

       There are plenty of reasons for US consumers to consider installing a home battery, from storing excess power generated by rooftop solar panels to nabbing a tax credit or simply upping their garage gadgetry game. But the companies selling home batteries at CES are highlighting a more dire motivation: The US grid is increasingly rickety and home energy bills are increasingly volatile. — Bloomberg