Long-term investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Schedule Of Long Term Investment [Table Text Block]

	December 31,					December 31,
	2018					2017
	$		Interest %			$		Interest %
Equity method investments
-GZ Highpower (1)		7,683,900		31.294	%		8,102,520		31.294	%
-Shenzhen V-power Innovative Technology Co., Ltd (“V-power”) (2)		595,730		49.000	%		-		N/A
Cost method investment
-Huizhou Yipeng Energy Technology Co Ltd. (“Yipeng”) (3)		1,714,222		4.654	%		1,803,859		4.654	%
		9,993,852					9,906,379

(1) Investment in GZ Highpower

On December 11, 2017, GZ Highpower signed an Agreement with Xiamen Tungsten and Mr. Ou, the General Manager of GZ Highpower. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, GZ Highpower received a total of RMB92.8 million (approximately $14.3 million), including RMB78.9 million (approximately $12.1 million) from Xiamen Tungsten in exchange for 55.294% ownership of GZ Highpower (“the Transaction”). The Transaction was completed on December 21, 2017 upon the receipt of the payments by GZ Highpower. After the Transaction, the Company lost the controlling power over GZ Highpower and deconsolidated GZ Highpower. As of December 31, 2017, the Company held 31.294% of the equity interest of GZ Highpower which was recorded under the equity method.

In connection with the Transaction, RMB 40 million (approximately $6.1 million) of the proceeds was received by the Company in the form of repayments of loans and related interests that were previously extended by the Company to GZ Highpower.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized a gain on deconsolidation of a subsidiary of $6,004,008.

The equity in loss of investee was $16,504 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

(2) Investment in V-power

On February 28, 2018, the Company signed an investment agreement with a related company and a group of individuals (the “Founder Team”) with an aggregate amount of RMB4.9 million (approximately $0.7 million) for 49% of the equity interest of V-power, which was recorded under the equity method. In addition, the Company agreed to transfer the 15% of original equity interest of V-power to the Founder Team as compensation under voluntary assignment as any of the following requirements met: 1. annual sales revenue higher or equal to RMB30 million before the first capital increase of V-power; 2. valuation of V-power higher or equal to RMB30 million before equity issuance. As of December 31, 2018, the Company injected RMB2.1 million (approximately $0.3 million) to V-power, and the unpaid amount was recorded as amount due to a related party (See Note 26). In January 2019, the Company injected RMB2.1 million (approximately $0.3 million) to V-power.

The equity in loss of investee was $123,628 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

(3) Investment in Yipeng

On May 5, 2017, the Company entered into an Agreement for Equity Transfer and Capital Increase (the “Equity Transfer Agreement”) with a third party, Xiamen Jiupai Yuanjiang New Power Equity Investment Partnership ("New Power"). New Power invested RMB60.0 million (approximately $9.2 million) for a 20% equity interest in Yipeng, which the business registration was completed on June 8, 2017, and the Company received RMB71.0 million (approximately $10.9 million) in cash from New Power for the sales of 25,145,834 shares in Yipeng on July 27, 2017 (collectively, the “Equity Transfer Transaction”). After the Equity Transfer Transaction, the Company’s equity ownership in Yipeng decreased from 35.4% to 4.654%, and the Company lost the ability to exercise significant influence over Yipeng, discontinued the use of equity method accounting and applied the cost method.

The Company recognized gain on dilution in equity method investee of $500,270 for the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with the additional equity issuance of Yipeng to New Power. The Company recognized gain on sales for $1,677,367 in connection with the sales of its shares in Yipeng to New Power.

The equity in earnings of investee was $107,243 from January 1, 2017 to July 27, 2017.