CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 10,775	$ 29,460
Cost of goods sold	(11,901)	(30,722)
Gross loss	(1,126)	(1,262)
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing	1,925	3,323
General and administrative	8,215	10,775
Research and development	386	1,479
Impairment loss on assets	20,367	1,082
Total operating expenses	30,893	16,659
Loss from operations	(32,019)	(17,921)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(2,542)	(2,464)
Other income	540	330
Total income (expense)	(2,002)	(2,134)
Loss before income taxes	(34,021)	(20,055)
Income tax benefit (expense)
Net loss	(34,021)	(20,055)
Less: loss attributable to non-controlling interest	10,539	5,911
Net loss attributable to ZAP's common shareholders	(23,482)	(14,144)
Net loss	(34,021)	(20,055)
Other comprehensive loss
Foreign currency translation adjustments	932	(169)
Total comprehensive loss	(33,089)	(20,224)
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest	10,071	5,784
Comprehensive loss attributable to ZAP	$ (23,018)	$ (14,440)
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders:
Basic and diluted	$ (0.04)	$ (0.03)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted	589,673	502,660