Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v2.4.1.9
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation
On November 21, 2013, the Company effected a 1-for-2.381 reverse stock split of its issued common stock. All applicable share data, per share amounts and related information in the financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively to give effect to the 1-for-2.381 reverse stock split.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Accounts Receivable
Trade accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally requires no collateral from its customers. In limited instances, the Company may require an upfront deposit and, in most cases, the Company does charge interest on past due amounts. Management estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts based on review and analysis of specific customer balances that may not be collectible and how recently payments have been received. Accounts are considered for write-off when they become past due and when it is determined that the probability of collection is remote. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $24,775 at December 31, 2014. There was no allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2013.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first in, first out method) or market value. Inventory quantities on hand are reviewed regularly and a write-down for excess and obsolete inventory is recorded based primarily on an estimated forecast of product demand, market conditions and anticipated production requirements in the near future. There was a $40,703 reserve for excess and obsolete inventory at December 31, 2014 related to component parts not anticipated to be used in production. There was no reserve for excess and obsolete inventory at December 31, 2013.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Major additions and improvements are capitalized while maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the useful life of the respective asset are expensed. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the asset or the related leases. Estimated useful lives of the principal classes of assets are as follows:
Leasehold improvements
4 years
Machinery and equipment
5 years
Furniture, fixtures and computers
3 – 5 years
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Patents
Patents are recorded at cost. The Company capitalizes third party legal costs and filing fees associated with obtaining patents on its new discoveries. Once the patents have been issued, the Company amortizes these costs over the shorter of the legal life of the patent or its estimated economic life, generally 20 years, using the straight-line method.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The long-lived assets held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment no less frequently than annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the cost of any long-lived assets may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability is performed. Management has determined that there was no impairment in the value of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are categorized based on whether or not the inputs are observable in the market and the degree that the inputs are observable. The categorization of financial assets and liabilities within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The Company’s financial instruments primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable. As of the balance sheet dates, the estimated fair values of the financial instruments were not materially different from their carrying values as presented on the balance sheets. This is primarily attributed to the short maturities of these instruments. The Company did not identify any other non-recurring assets and liabilities that are required to be presented in the balance sheets at fair value.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from product sales is recognized when the risks of loss and title pass to the customer, as specified in (1) the respective sales agreements and (2) other revenue recognition criteria as prescribed by Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 101 (SAB 101), “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements,” as amended by SAB No. 104, “Revenue Recognition”. The Company generally sells its products FOB shipping and recognizes revenue when products are shipped. Revenue from service contracts is recognized using the completed-performance or proportional-performance method depending on the terms of the service agreement. When there are acceptance provisions based on customer-specified subjective criteria, the completed-performance method is used. For contracts where the services performed in the last series of acts is very significant, in relation to the entire contract, performance is not deemed to have occurred until the final act is completed. Once customer acceptance has been received, or the last significant act is performed, revenue is recognized. The Company uses the proportional-performance method when a service contract specifies a number of acts to be performed and the Company has the ability to determine the pattern and related value in which service is provided to the customer.
The Company receives payments from government entities in the form of government grants. Government grants are agreements that generally provide the Company with cost reimbursement for certain type of research and development activities over a contractually defined period. Revenues from government grants are recognized in the period during which the Company incurs the related costs, provided that the Company has incurred the cost in accordance with the specifications and work plans determined between the Company and the government entity. Costs incurred related to the grants are recorded as grant research and development costs. Government grant revenue amounted to $579,079 and $1,374,956 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, grants receivable amounted to $132,227 and $211,063, respectively, and were included in accounts receivable.
Royalty income is recognized as earned based on the terms of the contractual agreements and has no direct costs.
Standard Product Warranty, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Product Warranties
The Company generally provides a ten year manufacturer’s warranty covering product defects. Accruals for product warranties are estimated based upon limited historical warranty experience, engineering experience and judgment, and a third party assessment of the reliability of the Company’s 30kW products. Accruals for product warranties are recorded in cost of revenues at the time revenue is recognized in order to match revenues with related expenses. The Company assesses the adequacy of its estimated warranty liability quarterly and adjusts the reserve, included in accrued expenses, as necessary. Although any such adjustments were not material in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, any such adjustments could be material in the future if estimates differ significantly from longer term warranty experience.
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Research and Development
Grant research and development are costs incurred solely related to grant revenues, and are classified as a line item under cost of revenues.
Other research and development costs are presented as a line item under operating expenses and are expensed as incurred. Total research and development costs incurred during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $2,901,890 and $2,643,096, respectively, of which $643,421 and $1,430,798, respectively, was included in cost of revenues.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach which allows for the recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets based upon the likelihood of realization of tax benefits in future years. Under the asset and liability approach, deferred taxes are provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not these items will either expire before the Company is able to realize their benefits, or that future deductibility is uncertain. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company has established a full reserve against all deferred tax assets.
Tax benefits from an uncertain tax position are recognized only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Net Loss Per Share
The Company applies FASB ASC 260, “Earnings per Share.” Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing earnings (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed similar to basic earnings (loss) per share except that the denominator is increased to include additional common shares available upon exercise of stock options and warrants using the treasury stock method, except for periods for which no common share equivalents are included because their effect would be anti-dilutive. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, potentially dilutive shares outstanding amounted to 2,932,155 and 2,145,495, respectively.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]
Stock Based Compensation
The Company applies FASB ASC 718, “Stock Compensation,” when recording stock based compensation. The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation model are as follows:
Grant Price — The grant price of the issuances are determined based on the estimated fair value of the shares at the date of grant prior to the Company’s IPO and the closing share price on the date of grant subsequent to the Company’s IPO.
Risk-free interest rate — The risk free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. treasury yield in effect at the time of grant.
Expected lives — As permitted by SAB 107, due to the Company’s insufficient history of option activity, the management utilizes the simplified approach to estimate the options expected term, which represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding.
Expected volatility — is determined based on management’s estimate or historical volatilities of comparable companies.
Expected dividend yield — is based on current yield at the grant date or the average dividend yield over the historical period. The Company has never declared or paid dividends and has no plans to do so in the foreseeable future.
The Company accounts for stock issued to non-employees in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 505-50 “Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees.” FASB ASC 505-50 states that equity instruments that are issued in exchange for the receipt of goods or services should be measured at the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. The measurement date occurs as of the earlier of (a) the date at which a performance commitment is reached or (b) absent a performance commitment, the date at which the performance necessary to earn the equity instruments is complete (that is, the vesting date).
Presentation of Sales Taxes Policy [Policy Text Block]
Presentation of Sales Taxes
Certain states impose a sales tax on the Company’s sales to nonexempt customers. The Company collects that sales tax from customers and remits the entire amount to the states. The Company’s accounting policy is to exclude the tax collected and remitted to the states from revenues and cost of revenues.
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The Company maintains its cash with a major financial institution located in the United States. Balances are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000. The Company maintains balances in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.
The Company encounters a certain amount of risk as a result of a concentration of revenue from a few significant customers. Credit is extended to customers based on an evaluation of their financial condition. The Company generally does not require collateral or other security to support accounts receivable. In limited instances, the Company may require an upfront deposit and, in most cases, the Company does charge interest on past due amounts. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and records an allowance for potential bad debts based on available information. The Company had revenue from a government entity and three customers that accounted for 76% of net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2014, and from a government entity that accounted for 65% of net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Company had an accounts receivable balance from a government entity, two customers and a vendor that accounted for 80% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2014, and from a government entity that accounted for 84% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2013.
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Reclassifications
Certain items in prior financial statements have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if adopted, will have a material effect on the financial statements.