April 23, 2026 - (Monterey, CA) The Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA) hosted the E-Bike Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony last Friday (April 17) at the Lifetime Sea Otter Classic. The event recognized a distinguished group of visionaries, engineers, and entrepreneurs whose contributions transformed the e-bike from an experimental concept into a global transportation revolution.
A Tribute to the Pioneers
The ceremony, led by LEVA Vice Chairman Jonathan Weinert, served as a permanent tribute to the leaders who recognized the potential of electric mobility long before it reached the mainstream.
“The e-bike boom was built on decades of collaboration, risk-taking, and technical mastery,” stated LEVA founder and Chairman Ed Benjamin in a shared message. “The E-Bike Hall of Fame will continue to exist as a living history of the industry”.
The Class of 2026 Inductees
Following the induction of 10 individuals at Taipei Cycle last month, the Sea Otter Classic ceremony welcomed 9 additional industry giants to the Class of 2026.
In Memoriam
The ceremony began by honoring four influential figures who are no longer with us, but whose legacies continue to shape the industry:
• Lee Iacocca (d. 2019): An automotive icon who brought global credibility to the infant e-bike business in the 1990s through EV Warrior and EV Global.
• Sydney Kuropchak (d. 2013): Co-founder of LEVA and architect of the LEVA Technician Training Program, which educated large numbers of bike shops and mechanics.
• Dr. Don Gerhardt, PhD (d. 2026): Author of the Electric Bike Maintenance Manual and a mentor who personally oversaw the training of more than 2,000 U.S. e-bike mechanics.
• Dr. Malcolm Currie: A pioneering partner in early U.S. e-bike efforts, whose award was accepted by longtime partner Larry Pizzi.
Industry Visionaries
The Hall of Fame also celebrated active leaders who have championed e-bike adoption across the United States:
• Mike Fritz (Human Powered Solutions): The first engineer hired by Lee Iacocca for the E-bike project, which kick-started a career-long dedication to e-bike development.
• Larry Pizzi (Pedego): A driving force behind major U.S. e-bike brands for several decades including CurrieTech, Izip, Haibike, and Pedego.
• Rob Kaplan (Bulls Bikes): Recognized for his decades of work in opening the dealer market to the possibilities of electric cycling.
• Karen & Brett Thurber (The New Wheel): Founders of one of the country’s first and most successful premium electric independent bicycle dealerships (eIBDs).
