-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IYH9dfhO8g9rgXZB7mbPz7bSWULoEwTwU3lu9qenD7/mZ9niCapXJ7/5XeUb/utH
 f/EoCFGvgdmwQ4TRlSfYXA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001017951-09-000003.txt : 20090105
<SEC-HEADER>0001017951-09-000003.hdr.sgml : 20090105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090105172400
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001017951-09-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHNEIDER STEVEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001257783

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32534
		FILM NUMBER:		09506713

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 FOURTH ST.
		CITY:			SANTA ROSA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZAP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001024628
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTORCYCLES, BICYCLES & PARTS [3751]
		IRS NUMBER:				943210624
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 FOURTH STREET
		CITY:			SANTA ROSA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7075258658

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 FOURTH STREET
		CITY:			SANTA ROSA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95401

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ZAPWORLD COM
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990715

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ZAP POWER SYSTEMS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970319
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001024628</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ZAP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZAAP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257783</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHNEIDER STEVEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>501 FOURTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA ROSA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>235178</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2984678</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven Schneider</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----