Organization and basis of presentation (Schedule of Subsidiaries and Principle Activities) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Feb. 08, 2012
Hong Kong Highpower Technology Co., Ltd ("HKHTC") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Jul. 04, 2003
Attributable equity interest held	100.00%
Shenzhen Highpower Technology Co., Ltd ("SZ Highpower") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Oct. 08, 2002
Attributable equity interest held	100.00%
Highpower Energy Technology (Huizhou) Co., Ltd ("HZ Highpower") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Jan. 29, 2008
Attributable equity interest held	100.00%
Springpower Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd ("SZ Springpower") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Jun. 04, 2008
Attributable equity interest held	100.00%
Ganzhou Highpower Technology Co., Ltd ("GZ Highpower") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Sep. 21, 2010
Attributable equity interest held	60.00%	60.00%
Icon Energy System Co., Ltd. ("ICON") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Feb. 23, 2011
Attributable equity interest held	100.00%
Huizhou Highpower Technology Co., Ltd ("HZ HTC") [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Date of incorporation	Mar. 08, 2012
Attributable equity interest held	100.00%