Our Story
More than a decade ago, Larry, Jake, and Gabe met while working side by side at Gramma’s Gardens. Their days were spent welding, restoring motorcycles, landscaping, and helping operate a large garden center. Over time, they didn’t just build skills—they built trust, grit, and a shared work ethic rooted in getting their hands dirty and doing things right.
In 2020, during one of the toughest business seasons imaginable, Larry became fascinated with electric bikes. What started as curiosity quickly became an obsession. Before long, all three were spending their free time riding motorcycles, building e-bikes, and exploring Metro Detroit—unknowingly laying the groundwork for something much bigger.
After a grueling Christmas sales season, Jake and Larry took a hard look at the future of the garden center. After ten years, they knew it was time for a new direction. Standing in the cold—exhausted, but energized by possibility—the three friends made a bold decision: to invest their hard-earned Christmas profits into starting an electric bike company.
That moment marked the birth of Detroit Electric Bike Company.
In just two months, they built fabrication shops, launched a design studio, developed prototypes, and designed—and patented—five unique e-bikes. The company was fully self-funded, built without debt, and also supported by my sister Mary Jo Chiapelli, who believed in my dream of an e-bike company, from the very beginning.
Over five years, we designed, engineered, and tested ten unique electric vehicles—including e-bikes, e-motorcycles, and e-scooters—logging more than 1,000 miles (for each electric vehicle) of real-world riding. We put these vehicles to use on bike trails, at the farm as utility vehicles, throughout major U.S. cities, and even scooters inside large grocery stores. This wide range of environments required our designs to meet the highest standards of durability and safety for the general public.
As company president, Larry believed it was essential to take the time necessary to perfect every model. That commitment to doing things right resulted in vehicles we’re now proud to offer and call “world-class!”
What began as a passion project quickly earned a reputation for producing some of the most stylish, safe, and comfortable e-bikes on the market. Launched during a pivotal shift away from fossil fuels, Detroit Electric Bike Company stands for innovation, craftsmanship, and unmistakable Metro Detroit grit.
Built by family, friends & partners. Powered by Metro Detroit. 
