Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Operations And Comprehensive Loss (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Operations And Comprehensive Loss [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 12,181	$ 11,708
Cost of goods sold	(11,479)	(10,673)
Gross profit	702	1,035
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing (includes non-cash items of $540 in 2012 and $629 in 2011, respectively)	2,112	1,872
General and administrative (includes non-cash items of $1,079 in 2012 and $3,871 in 2011)	2,491	3,469
Research and development	279	762
Total operating expenses	4,882	6,103
Loss from operations	(4,180)	(5,068)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(486)	(1,850)
Loss from equity in Joint Venture	(119)	(73)
Loss on financial instruments		(358)
Other income (expense), net	235	143
Total other income (expense)	(370)	(2,138)
Loss before income taxes	(4,550)	(7,206)
Income tax benefit	38	21
Net loss	(4,512)	(7,185)
Net loss attributable to non controlling interest	1,073	570
Net loss attributable to Zap	(3,439)	(6,615)
Other Comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(187)	314
Net unrealized (loss) on securities available for sale	(474)	(286)
Comprehensive loss	(5,173)	(7,157)
Comprehensive loss attributable to non controlling interest	1,165	416
Comprehensive loss attributable to Zap	$ (4,008)	$ (6,741)
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders:
Basic and diluted	$ (0.01)	$ (0.03)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted	298,127	209,273