Note 4 - Electric Bus Sales (Details Textual) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 19, 2012	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013	May 13, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 06, 2013 USD ($)
Sales Agreement, Period	5 years
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net		$ 8,348	$ 5,883
Security Deposit, Refundable Period		10 years
Security Deposit, Percentage		20.00%
Sales Commission Fees, Percentage		8.00%
Incentive, Payment Period		10 years
Electric Bus [Member]
Number of Buses Delivered			75
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net		$ 21	$ 11,419
Wu'an [Member]
Contract Number of Electric Bus							165
Number of Buses Delivered		0	28		0
Wu'an [Member] | Electric Bus [Member]
Sales Agreement, Contract Amount						$ 44,500	$ 25,100
Handan [Member]
Contract Number of Electric Bus						200
Number of Buses Delivered			47	153
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net			$ 11,300	$ 28,400
Security Deposit, Refundable Period		10 years	10 years
Security Deposit, Percentage		20.00%