INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURES (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] ZAP [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Shanghai Zapple [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Shanghai Zapple [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Shanghai Zapple [Member] CNY	Sep. 30, 2013 Better World [Member] ZAP Hangzhou [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 ZAP Hangzhou [Member] Shanghai Zapple [Member] CNY	Sep. 30, 2013 Zhejiang UFO Automobile [Member] ZAP Hangzhou [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Zhejiang UFO Automobile [Member] Shanghai Zapple [Member] CNY
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage										37.50%				37.50%	50.00%	25.00%	50.00%
Original registered capital of joint venture						$ 3,000,000		$ 3,000,000		$ 1,100,000			20,000,000		3,000,000		5,000,000
Equity method investment losses	$ 82,000	$ 25,000	$ 656,000	$ 296,000	$ 403,000	$ 79,000	$ 7,000	$ 182,000	$ 92,000		$ 461,000	$ 280