| Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Basis of presentation The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the United States generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). |
| Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Highpower and its directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company deconsolidates a subsidiary as of the date the Company ceases to have a controlling financial interest in that subsidiary. In 2017, the Company deconsolidated GZ Highpower (See Note 13). |
| Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the allowance for doubtful receivables; recoverability of the carrying amount of inventory; fair value of financial instruments; provisional amounts based on reasonable estimates for certain income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) and the assessment of deferred tax assets or liabilities. These estimates are often based on complex judgments and assumptions that management believes to be reasonable but are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. Actual results could differ from these estimates. |
| Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Concentrations of credit risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. The Company extends credit based on an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral or other security. In order to minimize the credit risk, the management of the Company has delegated a team responsible for determining credit limits, credit approvals and other monitoring procedures to ensure that follow-up action is taken to recover overdue debts. Further, the Company reviews the recoverable amount of each individual trade debt at each balance sheet date with the consideration of credit insurance to ensure that adequate impairment losses are made for irrecoverable amounts. In this regard, the management of the Company considers that the Company’s credit risk is significantly reduced. No customer accounted for 10% or more of net sales during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. There was one major supplier accounted for 10.7% of our total purchase amount during the year ended December 31, 2018. There was no supplier accounted for or over 10% of our total purchase amount during the year ended December 31, 2017. There was no customer accounted for 10% of the accounts receivable as of December 31, 2018. There was one customer accounted for 10.1% of the accounts receivable as of December 31, 2017. |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Cash Cash include all cash on hand and cash in bank with no restrictions. |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Restricted cash Restricted cash include time deposit pledged for bank loan facilities within one-year maturities, cash deposit for bank acceptance bills within six-month maturities, break-even financial products with less than three months remaining maturity pledged for notes payable and special bank accounts required by government grant. |
| Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Accounts receivable Accounts receivable are stated at the original amount less an allowance for doubtful receivables, if any, based on a review of all outstanding amounts at period end. An allowance is also made when there is objective evidence that the Company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. The Company analyzes the aging of the customer accounts, coverage of credit insurance, customer concentrations, customer credit-worthiness, historical and current economic trends and changes in its customer payment patterns when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. |
| Finance, Loans and Leases Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Notes receivable Notes receivable represent banks’ acceptances that have been arranged with third-party financial institutions by certain customers to settle their purchases from us. These banks’ acceptances are non-interest bearing and are collectible within six months. |
| Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Inventories Inventories are stated at lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the weighted average method. Inventories include raw materials, packing materials, consumables, work in progress and finished goods. The variable production overhead is allocated to each unit of production on the basis of the actual use of the production facilities. The allocation of fixed production overhead to the costs of conversion is based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. Where there is evidence that the utility of inventories, in their disposal in the ordinary course of business, will be less than cost, whether due to physical deterioration, obsolescence, changes in price levels, or other causes, the inventories are written down to net realizable value. The Company wrote down inventories of $1,171,456 and $1,109,702 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
| Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Cost represents the purchase price of the asset and other costs incurred to bring the asset into its existing use. Maintenance, repairs and betterments, including replacement of minor items, are charged to expense; major additions to physical properties are capitalized. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is provided using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives: Buildings 20-40 years Furniture, fixtures and office equipment 5 years Leasehold improvement Shorter of the remaining lease terms or estimated useful lives Machinery and equipment 10 years Motor vehicles 5 years Upon sale or disposal, the applicable amounts of asset cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the net amount less proceeds from disposal is charged or credited to income. Construction in progress represents capital expenditures for direct costs of construction or acquisition and design fees incurred, and the interest expenses directly related to the construction. Capitalization of these costs ceases and the construction in progress is transferred to the appropriate category of property, plant and equipment when substantially all the activities necessary to prepare the assets for their intended use are completed. Construction in progress is not depreciated. |
| Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Long-term investments For an investee over which the Company holds less than 20% voting interest and has no ability to exercise significant influence, the investments are accounted for under the cost method. For an investee over which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not have a controlling interest, the Company accounted for those using the equity method. Significant influence is generally considered to exist when the Company has an ownership interest in the voting stock of the investee between 20% and 50%. Other factors, such as representation on the investee’s board of directors, voting rights and the impact of commercial arrangements, are also considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate. An impairment charge is recorded if the carrying amount of the investment exceeds its fair value and this condition is determined to be other-than temporary. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, management believes no impairment charge is necessary. |
| Land Use Rights [Policy Text Block] | Land use right, net Land use right represents payment for the right to use certain parcel of land for a certain period of time in the PRC. Land use right is carried at cost and charged to expense on a straight-line basis over 50 years the right is granted. |
| Asset Retirement Obligation [Policy Text Block] | Other assets Other assets represent the long-term rental deposits and a royalty-bearing, non-exclusive license to use certain patents owned by an unrelated party ("License Provider"), to manufacture rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries for portable consumer applications (“Consumer Batteries”) in the PRC, and a royalty-bearing, non-exclusive worldwide license to use certain patents owned by License Provider to manufacture, sell and distribute Consumer Batteries. |
| Government Grants Revenue Recognition [Policy Text Block] | Government grants Conditional government grants are recognized as deferred government grants when received. Specifically, government grants whose primary condition is that the Company should purchase, construct or otherwise acquire non-current assets is recognized on the consolidated balance sheet as deferred government grants and deducted in calculating the carrying amount of the related asset. The revenue from such grants is recognized in profit or loss over the life of the related depreciable asset as a reduction of depreciation expense. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded deferred government grants of $464,206 and $309,638, respectively, for the government grants to purchase non-current assets. Government grants as compensation for expenses or losses already incurred or for the purpose of giving immediate financial support to the Company with no future related benefit are recognized in the period in which they become receivable. Approximately $2,460,013 and $1,357,852 government grants were recognized for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
| Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Impairment of long-lived assets The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable. When these events occur, the Company measures impairment by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flow is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Company would recognize an impairment loss, which is the excess of carrying amount over the fair value of the assets, using the expected future discounted cash flows. |
| Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Revenue recognition Revenue is recognized when (or as) the Company satisfies performance obligations by transferring a promised goods to a customer. Revenue is measured at the transaction price which is based on the amount of consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring the promised goods to the customer. Contracts with customers are comprised of customer purchase orders, invoices and written contracts. Given the nature of our business, customer product orders are fulfilled at a point in time and not over a period of time. The majority of domestic sales contracts transfer control to customers upon receipt of product by customers. The majority of oversea sales contracts transfer control to customers when goods were delivered to the carriers. In most jurisdictions where the Company operates, sales are subject to Value Added Tax (“VAT”). Revenue is presented net of VAT. The Company does not have any future obligations directly or indirectly related to product resale by customers. |
| Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Cost of Sales Cost of sales consists primarily of material costs, labor costs, depreciation and related expenses, which are directly attributable to the production of products. Write-down of inventories to lower of cost or net realizable value is also recorded in cost of sales. |
| Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Research and development Research and development expenses include expenses directly attributable to the conduct of research and development programs, including the expenses of salaries, employee benefits, materials, supplies, and maintenance of research equipment. All expenses associated with research and development are expensed as incurred. |
| Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block] | Share-based compensation The Company recognizes compensation expense associated with the issuance of equity instruments to employees for their services. The fair value of the equity instruments is estimated on the date of grant and is expensed in the financial statements over the vesting period. The input assumptions used in determining fair value are the expected life, expected volatility, risk-free rate and the dividend yield. Share-based compensation associated with the issuance of equity instruments to non-employees is recorded at the fair value on the measurement date. The measurement of stock-based compensation at fair value is subject to periodic adjustment at each reporting period. |
| Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Income taxes The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each period end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates, applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. |
| Income Tax Uncertainties, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Uncertain tax positions The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes using a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized and recorded as necessary in the provision for income taxes. According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational errors made by the taxpayer or the withholding agent. The statute of limitations is extended to five years under special circumstances, where the underpayment of taxes is more than RMB100,000. In the case of transfer pricing issues, the statute of limitation is ten years. There is no statute of limitation in the case of tax evasion. There were no uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the Company does not believe that its unrecognized tax benefits will change over the next twelve months. |
| Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Comprehensive income Comprehensive income is comprised of the Company’s net income and other comprehensive income. The component of other comprehensive income or loss is consisted solely of foreign currency translation adjustments, net of the income tax effect. |
| Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block] | Foreign currency translation and transactions Highpower’s functional currency is the United States dollar ("US$"). HKHTC's functional currency is the Hong Kong dollar ("HK$"). The functional currency of Highpower's other directly and indirectly wholly owned subsidiaries in the PRC is the Renminbi ("RMB"). Most of the Company’s oversea sales are priced and settled with US$. At the date a foreign currency transaction is recognized, each asset, liability, revenue, expense, gain, or loss arising from the transaction is measured initially in the functional currency of the recording entity by use of the exchange rate in effect at that date. The increase or decrease in expected functional currency cash flows upon settlement of a transaction resulting from a change in exchange rates between the functional currency and the currency in which the transaction is denominated is recognized as foreign currency transaction gain or loss that is included in earnings for the period in which the exchange rate changes. At each balance sheet date, recorded balances that are denominated in a foreign currency are adjusted to reflect the current exchange rate. The Company’s reporting currency is US$. Assets and liabilities of HKHTC and the PRC subsidiaries are translated at the current exchange rate at the balance sheet dates, revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates during the reporting periods, and equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Translation adjustments are reported in other comprehensive income. |
| Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Segment reporting The Company uses the “management approach” in determining reportable segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by the Company's chief operating decision maker for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source for determining the Company's reportable segments. The Company’s reportable segments are based on products, geography, legal structure, management structure, or any other manner in which management disaggregates a company. Therefore the Company categorizes its business into three reportable segments, namely (i) Lithium Business; (ii) Ni-MH Batteries and Accessories; and (iii) New Material. |
| Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Fair value of financial instruments The carrying values of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, restricted cash, accounts receivables, accounts payable and short-term borrowings, approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturity of such instruments. ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and it considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. ASC Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires maximizing the use of observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company measures fair value using three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: -Level 1 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. -Level 2 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. -Level 3 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. |
| Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Foreign exchange derivatives From time to time the Company may utilize foreign currency forward contracts to reduce the impact of foreign currency exchange rate risk. Management considered that the foreign currency forwards did not meet the criteria for designated hedging instruments and hedged transactions to qualify for cash flow hedge or fair value hedge accounting. The currency forwards therefore are accounted for as derivatives, with fair value changes reported as gain (loss) of derivative instruments in the statements of operations. The derivatives asset is recognized in the balance sheets at the fair value (level 2). |
| Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Earnings per share Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing income attributable to holders of common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common shares were exercised or converted into common shares. |
| New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Recently issued accounting standards In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which was subsequently modified in August 2015 by ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2017. In 2016, the FASB issued additional ASUs that clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations (ASU 2016-08), on identifying performance obligations and licensing (ASU 2016-10), and on narrow-scope improvements and practical expedients (ASU 2016-12) as well as on the revenue recognition criteria and other technical corrections (ASU 2016-20). In 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-05, Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20), which was originally issued in ASU 2014-09. Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. It also impacts certain other areas, such as the accounting for costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. The standard also requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Management has adopted this standard effective January 1, 2018 using the modified-retrospective approach, in which case the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the date of initial application. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, statement of operations and statement of cash flows as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018. See Note 3 for disclosures required by ASC 606 and the updated accounting policy for revenue recognition. On February 25, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). It requires that a lessee recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from operating leases. A lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2016-02 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. As a result of the adoption, all of the leases greater than one year in duration will be recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as both lease liabilities and right-of-use assets upon adoption of the standard. The Company has adopted this standard effective January 1, 2019 using the alternative transition method. Upon adoption, the Company expected to record right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities of $5.7 million and $5.9 million in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, respectively. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). The amendments in this Update allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Consequently, the amendments eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and will improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. However, because the amendments only relate to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the underlying guidance that requires that the effect of a change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. The amendments in this Update also require certain disclosures about stranded tax effects. Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2018-02 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the amendments in this Update is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, (1) for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued and (2) for all other entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been made available for issuance. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-05, Income Tax (Topic 740) - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118. This update adds SEC paragraphs pursuant to the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which expresses the view of the staff regarding application of Topic 740, Income Taxes, in the reporting period that includes December 22, 2017 - the date on which the Tax Act was signed into law. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company does not believe other recently issued but not yet effective accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, statements of operations and cash flows. |
