Principal activities and organization (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Hong Kong Highpower Technology Co., Ltd ("HKHTC") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Jul. 04, 2003
Shenzhen Highpower Technology Co., Ltd ("SZ Highpower") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Oct. 08, 2002
Springpower Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd ("SZ Springpower") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Jun. 04, 2008
Icon Energy System Co., Ltd. ("ICON") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Feb. 23, 2011
Huizhou Highpower Technology Co., Ltd ("HZ HTC") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Mar. 08, 2012