INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURES (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 11, 2009 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 11, 2009 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] ZAP [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Shanghai Zapple [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 Shanghai Zapple [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Shanghai Zapple [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2011 Shanghai Zapple [Member] CNY	Dec. 11, 2009 Better World [Member] ZAP Hangzhou [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] Shanghai Zapple [Member] CNY	Dec. 11, 2009 Zhejiang UFO Automobile [Member] ZAP Hangzhou [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Zhejiang UFO Automobile [Member] Shanghai Zapple [Member] CNY
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage								37.10%					37.50%	50.00%	25.00%	50.00%
Original registered capital of joint venture												20,000,000
Joint venture, capital investment							3,000,000	1,100,000						3,000,000		5,000,000
Equity method investment losses	$ 485,000	$ 119,000	$ 403,000	$ (24,000)	$ (51,000)	$ (123,000)			$ (461,000)	$ (68,000)	$ (280,000)