SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 21, 2011
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]
Currency exchange rate, balance sheet application	6.3090	6.3009
Currency exchange rate, statement of operations application	6.3079	6.4618
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 201,000	$ 11,000
Restricted notes receivable	678,000
Reserved vehicle inventory	545,908
Impairment losses	2,600,000
Percentage ownership in Jonway Auto			51.00%
Percentage ownership in Jonway Auto by related party subject to acquisition by ZAP			49.00%
Reclassification of deposits and other assets		736,000
Reclassification of loss on sale of marketable securities		$ 56,000
Minimum [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Required cash deposits	50.00%
Maximum [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Required cash deposits	100.00%
EPA License [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	7 years
Customer Relationships [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	8 years 6 months
Developments [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	7 years
Machinery and equipment [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Machinery and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Computer equipment and software [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	3 years
Computer equipment and software [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Office furniture and equipment [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Vehicles [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	5 years
Leasehold improvements [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	10 years
Buildings and improvements [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Buildings and improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	20 years
Buildings and improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	30 years
Land Use Rights [Member]
Significiant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives	50 years