CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 5,356	$ 7,588	$ 13,718	$ 14,409
Cost of goods sold	(5,627)	(7,567)	(14,501)	(15,359)
Gross profit (loss)	(271)	21	(783)	(950)
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing	(890)	(746)	(1,882)	(1,480)
General and administrative	(2,770)	(2,377)	(4,649)	(4,440)
Research and development	(1,070)	(74)	(1,683)	(260)
Total operating expenses	(4,730)	(3,197)	(8,214)	(6,180)
Loss from operations	(5,001)	(3,176)	(8,997)	(7,130)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(674)	(998)	(1,435)	(1,873)
Other income	198	300	279	423
Total income (expense)	(476)	(698)	(1,156)	(1,450)
Loss before income taxes	$ (5,477)	(3,874)	$ (10,153)	(8,580)
Income tax benefit (expense)		3		(301)
Net loss	$ (5,477)	(3,871)	$ (10,153)	(8,881)
Less: loss attributable to non-controlling interest	1,930	1,103	3,614	2,737
Net loss attributable to ZAP's common shareholders	(3,547)	(2,768)	(6,539)	(6,144)
Net loss	(5,477)	(3,871)	(10,153)	(8,881)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	83	2	129	(116)
Total comprehensive loss	(5,394)	(3,869)	(10,024)	(8,997)
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest	1,930	1,102	3,511	2,794
Comprehensive loss attributable to ZAP	$ (3,464)	$ (2,767)	$ (6,513)	$ (6,203)
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders:
Basic and diluted	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted	460,213	365,252	460,448	333,712