CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 7,154	$ 5,220	$ 20,872	$ 19,630
Cost of goods sold	(7,348)	(5,840)	(21,849)	(21,200)
Gross profit (loss)	(194)	(620)	(977)	(1,570)
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing	(909)	(1,703)	(2,791)	(3,183)
General and administrative	(2,301)	(1,448)	(6,950)	(5,888)
Research and development	(38)	(119)	(1,721)	(380)
Total operating expenses	(3,248)	(3,270)	(11,462)	(9,451)
Loss from operations	(3,442)	(3,890)	(12,439)	(11,021)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(646)	(1,124)	(2,081)	(2,998)
Other income	374	212	653	635
Total income (expense)	(272)	(912)	(1,428)	(2,363)
Loss before income taxes	$ (3,714)	(4,802)	$ (13,867)	(13,384)
Income tax benefit (expense)		(1)		(302)
Net loss	$ (3,714)	(4,803)	$ (13,867)	(13,686)
Less: loss attributable to non-controlling interest	1,055	1,390	4,669	4,127
Net loss attributable to ZAP's common shareholders	(2,659)	(3,413)	(9,198)	(9,559)
Net loss	(3,714)	(4,803)	(13,867)	(13,686)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(130)	(3)	(1)	(119)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(3,844)	(4,806)	(13,868)	(13,805)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	1,096	1,392	4,607	4,185
Comprehensive loss attributable to ZAP	$ (2,748)	$ (3,414)	$ (9,261)	$ (9,620)
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders:
Basic and diluted	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted	496,392	412,700	470,777	360,632