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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenue and expenses. Actual results and outcomes could differ significantly from the Company’s estimates, judgments, and assumptions. Significant estimates include determining standalone selling price for performance obligations in contracts with customers, the estimated expected benefit period for
deferred contract acquisition costs, allowances for expected credit losses, inventory reserves, the useful lives of long-lived assets, the determination of the incremental borrowing rate used for operating lease liabilities, valuation of acquired goodwill and intangible assets, the value of common stock and other assumptions used to measure stock-based compensation, and the valuation of deferred income tax assets and uncertain tax positions. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could materially differ from those estimates and assumptions.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and accounts receivable. Cash and cash equivalents are held in domestic and foreign cash accounts across large, creditworthy financial institutions. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash and cash equivalents through deposits with federally insured commercial banks and at times cash balances may be in excess of federal insurance limits. Short-term investments consist of U.S. treasury bills that carry high-credit ratings and accordingly, minimal credit risk exists with respect to these balances.
Accounts receivable are stated at the amount the Company expects to collect. The Company generally does not require collateral or other security in support of accounts receivable. To reduce credit risk, management performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition.
Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable is considered to be limited due to the diversity of the Company’s customer base and geographic sales areas. As of January 31, 2023, one customer individually accounted for 10% or more of accounts receivable, net. As of January 31, 2022, there was no customer that accounted for 10% or more of accounts receivable, net. For the year ended January 31, 2023, there was one customer that represented 10% or more of total revenue. For the years ended January 31, 2022, and 2021 there were no customers that represented 10% or more of total revenue.
The Company’s revenue is concentrated in the infrastructure needed for charging EVs, an industry which is highly competitive and rapidly changing. Significant technological changes within the industry or customer requirements, or the emergence of competitive products with new capabilities or technologies, could adversely affect the Company’s operating results.
Segment Reporting
Operating segments are defined as components of an entity where discrete financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company operates as one operating segment because its CODM, who is its Chief Executive Officer, reviews its financial information on a consolidated basis for purposes of making decisions regarding allocating resources and assessing performance. The Company has no segment managers who are held accountable by the CODM for operations, operating results, and planning for levels of components below the consolidated unit level.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents may be invested in money market funds. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates their fair value.
Restricted cash relates to cash deposits restricted under letters of credit issued in support of customer and contract manufacturer agreements.
The reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash to amounts presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows were as follows:
January 31,
202320222021
(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents$264,162 $315,235 $145,491 
Restricted cash30,400 400 400 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash$294,562 $315,635 $145,891 
Short-Term Investments
The Company's portfolio of marketable debt securities is comprised solely of U.S. government securities with maturities of more than three months, but less than one year. The Company classifies these as available-for-sale at purchase date and will reevaluate such designation at each period end date. The Company may sell these marketable debt securities prior to their stated maturities depending upon changing liquidity requirements.
These debt securities are classified as current assets in the consolidated balance sheet and recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and as a component of the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.
Gains and losses are recognized when realized. Gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method and are reported in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.
An impairment loss may be recognized when the decline in fair value of the debt securities is determined to be other-than-temporary. The Company evaluates its investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value below the cost basis each quarter, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the cost basis of the short-term investments may not be recoverable. The evaluation is based on a number of factors, including the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been below the cost basis, as well as adverse conditions related specifically to the security, such as any changes to the credit rating of the security and the intent to sell or whether the Company will more likely than not be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Credit-related impairment losses, not to exceed the amount that fair value is less than the amortized cost basis, are recognized through an allowance for credit losses with changes in the allowance for credit losses recorded in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest receivable is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.
Accounts Receivable, net
Accounts receivable for products, services and in certain scenarios charging sessions are recorded at the invoiced amount and are non-interest bearing. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains an allowance for expected credit losses related to its existing accounts receivable and net realizable value to ensure trade receivables are not overstated due to uncollectibility. Allowances are provided for individual accounts receivable when the Company becomes aware of a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, such as in the case of bankruptcy, deterioration in the customer’s operating results, or change in financial position. If circumstances related to customers change, estimates of the recoverability of receivables are further adjusted. The Company also considers broader factors in evaluating the sufficiency of its allowances, including the length of time receivables are past due, macroeconomic conditions, significant one-time events, and historical experience. When the Company determines that there are accounts receivable that are uncollectible, they are written off against the allowance. The change in the allowance for expected credit losses for the years ended January 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 was as follows:
Beginning
Balance
Additions
Charged To
Expense
Write-offsEnding
Balance
(in thousands)
Year ended January 31, 2023
Allowance for expected credit losses$5,584 $6,353 $(1,937)$10,000 
Year ended January 31, 2022
Allowance for expected credit losses$2,000 $3,835 $(251)$5,584 
Year ended January 31, 2021
Allowance for expected credit losses$2,000 $121 $(121)$2,000 
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is computed using standard cost, which approximates actual cost, on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory levels are analyzed periodically and written down to their net realizable value if they have become obsolete, have a cost basis in excess of expected net realizable value or are in excess of expected demand. The Company analyzes current and future product demand relative to the remaining product life to identify potential excess inventories. The write-down is measured as the difference between the cost of the inventories and net realizable value and charged to inventory reserves, which is a component of cost of revenue. At the point of the loss recognition, a new, lower cost basis for those inventories is established, and subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.
Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, as follows:
Useful Lives
Furniture and fixtures
3 to 5 years
Computers and software
3 to 5 years
Machinery and equipment
3 to 5 years
Tooling
3 to 5 years
Leasehold improvementsShorter of the estimated lease term or useful life
Owned and operated systems
5 to 7 years
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Upon disposition, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.
ChargePoint-as-a-Service (“CPaaS”) combines the customer’s use of the Company’s owned and operated systems with Cloud subscription software (“Cloud”) and the Company’s Assure program (“Assure”) into a single subscription. When CPaaS contracts contain a lease, the underlying asset is carried at its carrying value within property and equipment, net on the consolidated balance sheets.
Internal-Use Software Development Costs
The Company capitalizes qualifying internal-use software development costs incurred during the application development stage for internal tools and cloud-based applications used to deliver its services, provided that management with the relevant authority authorizes and commits to the funding of the project, it is probable the project will be completed, and the software will be used to perform the function intended. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post implementation activities are expensed as incurred. Capitalized internal-use software development costs are included in property and equipment and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives once it is ready for its intended use. Amortization of capitalized internal-use software development costs is included within cost of revenue for Networked Charging Systems and subscriptions, research and development expense, sales and marketing expense, and general and administrative expense based on the use of the software. Costs incurred for enhancements that are expected to result in additional material functionality are capitalized. As of January 31, 2023 and 2022 capitalized costs have not been material.
Leases
Lessee
The Company determines if a contract is a lease or contains a lease at the inception of the contract and reassesses that conclusion if the contract is modified. All leases are assessed for classification as an operating lease or a finance lease. Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets are presented separately on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Operating lease liabilities are separated into a current portion, included within accrued and other current liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, and a noncurrent portion included within operating lease liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company does not have material finance leases. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The Company does not obtain and control its right to use the asset until the lease commencement date.
The Company’s lease liabilities are recognized at the applicable lease commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments required to be paid over the lease term. As the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments to present value. The estimated incremental borrowing rate is derived from information available at the lease commencement date. The Company’s ROU assets are also recognized at the applicable lease commencement date. The ROU asset equals the carrying amount of the related lease liability, adjusted for any lease payments made prior to lease commencement and lease incentives provided by the lessor. Variable lease payments are expensed as incurred and do not factor into the measurement of the applicable ROU asset or lease liability.
The term of the Company’s leases equals the non-cancellable period of the lease, including any rent-free periods provided by the lessor, and also includes options to renew or extend the lease (including by not terminating the lease) that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. The Company establishes the term of each lease at lease commencement and reassesses that term in subsequent periods when one of the triggering events outlined in ASC 842 occurs. Operating lease cost for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company’s lease contracts often include lease and non-lease components. The Company has elected the practical expedient offered by the standard to not separate the lease from non-lease components and accounts for them as a single lease component.
The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which allows the Company to carry forward its historical lease classification, its assessment on whether a contract is or contains a lease, and its initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to adoption of the new standard. The Company has elected, for all classes of underlying assets, not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for leases with a term of twelve months or less. Lease cost for short-term leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Lessor
The Company leases Networked Charging Systems to customers within certain CPaaS contracts. The leasing arrangements the Company enters into with lessees are operating leases, and as a result, the underlying asset is carried at its carrying value as owned and operated systems within property and equipment, net on the consolidated balance sheets.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company evaluates long-lived assets or asset groups for impairment whenever events indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable based on expected future cash flows attributable to that asset or asset group. Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amounts of an asset or an asset group to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows which the asset or asset group is expected to generate. If the carrying amount of an asset or asset group exceeds estimated undiscounted future cash flows, then an impairment charge would be recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset or asset group over its fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. There were no impairments of long-lived assets for the years ended January 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Business Combinations
The total purchase consideration for an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets transferred, equity instruments issued, and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. Costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition are expensed as incurred and included in general and administrative expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Identifiable assets (including intangible assets), liabilities assumed (including contingent liabilities), and noncontrolling interests in an acquisition are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The Company recognizes goodwill if the fair value of the total purchase consideration and any noncontrolling interests is in excess of the net fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to use significant judgment and estimates including the selection of valuation methodologies, cost of capital, future cash flows, and discount rates. The Company’s estimates of fair value are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. During the measurement period, not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with a corresponding offset to goodwill. The Company includes the results of operations of the acquired business in the consolidated financial statements beginning on the acquisition date.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired. The carrying amount of goodwill is reviewed for impairment at least annually, in the fourth quarter, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. As of January 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had a single operating segment and reporting unit structure. As part of the annual goodwill impairment test performed in the fourth quarter, the Company first performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. If, as a result of the qualitative assessment, it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test will be required. If the Company has determined it necessary to perform a quantitative impairment assessment, the Company will compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill of the reporting unit. The carrying value of goodwill was $213.7 million as of January 31, 2023 and $218.5 million as of January 31, 2022, and no goodwill impairment has been recognized to date.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist primarily of customer relationships and developed technology. Acquired intangible assets are initially recorded at the acquisition-date fair value and amortized on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives ranging from six to ten years.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as an exchange price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified into the following categories based on the inputs used to measure fair value:
(Level 1) — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date;
(Level 2) — Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and
(Level 3) — Inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability.
The Company classifies financial instruments in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy when there is reliance on at least one significant unobservable input to the valuation model. In addition to these unobservable inputs, the valuation models for Level 3 financial instruments typically also rely on a number of inputs that are readily observable, either directly or indirectly. The Company’s assessment of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires management to make judgments and consider factors specific to the asset or liability. The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available in determining fair value. The Company recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy, if any, at the end of each period. There were no transfers between levels during the periods presented. The Company had no material non-financial assets valued on a non-recurring basis that resulted in an impairment in any period presented.
The carrying values of the Company’s cash equivalents, accounts receivable, net, accounts payable, and accrued and other current liabilities approximate fair value based on the highly liquid, short-term nature of these instruments.
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Warrants
As discussed in Note 12, Stock Warrants and Earnout, upon the effectiveness of the Merger, substantially all of the outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants were converted into shares of Common Stock. As such, the associated warrant liability was reclassified to additional paid-in-capital upon the Merger and was no longer an outstanding Level 3 financial instrument as of January 31, 2023 and 2022.
Prior to the Merger, the Company evaluated whether its warrants to purchase shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock were freestanding financial instruments that obligated the Company to redeem the underlying preferred stock at some point in the future and determined that each of its outstanding warrants for preferred stock were liability classified. Redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants were recorded within noncurrent liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The warrants were recorded at fair value upon issuance and were subject to remeasurement to fair value at each balance sheet date. Changes in fair value of the redeemable convertible preferred stock warrant liability were recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.
Common Stock Warrant Liabilities
The Company assumed 10,470,562 publicly-traded warrants (“Public Warrants”) and 6,521,568 private placement warrants issued to NGP Switchback, LLC, the sponsor of Switchback (“Private Placement Warrants” and, together with the Public Warrants, the “Common Stock Warrants”) upon the Merger, all of which were issued in connection with Switchback’s initial public offering and subsequent overallotment (other than 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants which were issued in connection with the closing of the Merger) and entitle the holder to purchase one share of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 (“Common Stock”), at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2023, the remaining 10,435 Private Placement Warrants were exercised. As of January 31, 2023, no Common Stock Warrants remain outstanding.
The Company evaluated the Common Stock Warrants and concluded that they do not meet the criteria to be classified within stockholders’ equity. The agreement governing the Common Stock Warrants includes a provision (“Replacement of Securities Upon Reorganization”), the application of which could result in a different settlement value for the Common Stock Warrants depending on their holder. Because the holder of an instrument is not an input into the pricing of a fixed-for-fixed option on the Company’s ordinary shares, the Private Placement Warrants are not considered to be “indexed to the Company’s own stock.” In addition, the provision provides that in the event of a tender or exchange offer accepted by holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s ordinary shares, all holders of the Common Stock Warrants (both the Public Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants) would be entitled to receive cash for all of their Common Stock Warrants. Specifically, in the event of a qualifying cash tender offer (which could be outside of the Company’s control), all Common Stock Warrant holders would be entitled to cash, while only certain of the holders of the Company’s ordinary shares may be entitled to cash. These provisions preclude the Company from classifying the Common Stock Warrants in stockholders’ equity. As the Common Stock Warrants meet the definition of a derivative, the Company recorded these warrants as liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value, with subsequent changes in their respective fair values recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss at each reporting date.
Contingent Earnout Liability
In connection with the Reverse Recapitalization and pursuant to the Merger Agreement, eligible ChargePoint equity holders were entitled to receive as additional merger consideration shares of the Company’s Common Stock upon the Company achieving certain Earnout Triggering Events (as described in Note 12, Stock Warrants and Earnout). In accordance with ASC 815-40, the Earnout Shares were not indexed to the Common Stock and therefore were accounted for as a liability at the Reverse Recapitalization date and subsequently remeasured at each reporting date with changes in fair value recorded as a component of other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.
The estimated fair value of the contingent consideration was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation using a distribution of potential outcomes on a monthly basis over the Earnout Period (as defined in Note 12, Stock Warrants and Earnout) prioritizing the most reliable information available. The assumptions utilized in the calculation were based on the achievement of certain stock price milestones, including the current Company Common Stock price, expected volatility, risk-free rate, expected term and dividend rate.
Prior to its settlement, the contingent earnout liability was categorized as a Level 3 fair value measurement (see Fair Value of Financial Instruments accounting policy as described above) because the Company estimated projections during the Earnout Period utilizing unobservable inputs. Contingent earnout payments involve certain assumptions requiring significant judgment and actual results can differ from assumed and estimated amounts.
Revenue Recognition
ChargePoint accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). The Company recognizes revenue using the following five-step model as prescribed by ASC 606:
Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer;
Identification of the performance obligations in the contract;
Determination of the transaction price;
Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation.
Significant judgment and estimates are necessary for the allocation of the proceeds received from an arrangement to the multiple performance obligations and the appropriate timing of revenue recognition. The Company enters into contracts with customers that regularly include promises to transfer multiple products and services, such as Networked Charging Systems, software subscriptions, extended maintenance, and professional services. For arrangements with multiple products or services, the Company evaluates whether the individual products or services qualify as distinct performance obligations. In its assessment of whether products or services are a distinct performance obligation, the Company determines whether the customer can benefit from the product or service on its own or with other readily available resources and whether the service is separately identifiable from other products or services in the contract. This evaluation requires the Company to assess the nature of each of its Networked Charging Systems, subscriptions, and other offerings and how each is provided in the context of the contract, including whether they are significantly integrated which may require judgment based on the facts and circumstances of the contract.
The transaction price for each contract is determined based on the amount the Company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for transferring the promised products or services to the customer. Collectability of revenue is reasonably assured based on historical evidence of collectability of fees the Company charges its customers. The transaction price in the contract is allocated to each distinct performance obligation in an amount that represents the relative amount of consideration expected to be received in exchange for satisfying each performance obligation. Revenue is recognized when performance obligations are satisfied. Revenue is recorded based on the transaction price excluding amounts collected on behalf of third parties such as sales taxes, which are collected on behalf of and remitted to governmental authorities, or driver fees, collected on behalf of customers who offer public charging for a fee.
When agreements involve multiple distinct performance obligations, the Company accounts for individual performance obligations separately if they are distinct. The Company applies significant judgment in identifying and accounting for each performance obligation, as a result of evaluating terms and conditions in contracts. The transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price (“SSP”) basis. The Company determines SSP based on observable standalone selling price when it is available, as well as other factors, including the price charged to its customers, its discounting practices, and its overall pricing objectives, while maximizing observable inputs. In situations where pricing is highly variable, or a product is never sold on a stand-alone basis, the Company estimates the SSP using the residual approach.
The Company usually bills its customers at the onset of the arrangement for both the products and a predetermined period of time for services. Contracts for services typically range from annual to multi-year agreements with typical payment terms of 30 to 90 days.
Networked Charging Systems revenue
Networked Charging Systems revenue includes revenue related to the deliveries of EV charging system infrastructure. The Company recognizes revenue from sales of Networked Charging Systems upon shipment to the customer, which is when the performance obligation has been satisfied.
Subscriptions revenue
Subscriptions revenue consists of services related to Cloud, as well as extended maintenance service plans under Assure. Subscriptions revenue is recognized over time on a straight-line basis as the Company has a stand-ready obligation to deliver such services to the customer.
Subscriptions revenue also consists of CPaaS revenue, which combines the customer’s use of the Company’s owned and operated systems with Cloud and Assure programs into a single subscription. CPaaS subscriptions are considered for accounting purposes to contain a lease for the customer’s use of the Company’s owned and operated systems unless the location allows the Company to receive incremental economic benefit from regulatory credits earned on that owned and operated system. The leasing arrangements the Company enters into with lessees are operating leases. The Company recognizes operating lease revenue on a straight-line basis over the lease term and expenses deferred initial direct costs on the same basis. Lessor revenue relates to operating leases and historically has not been material.
Other revenue
Other revenue consists of fees received for transferring regulatory credits earned for participating in low carbon fuel programs in jurisdictions with such programs, charging related fees received from drivers using charging sites owned and operated by the Company, net transaction fees earned for processing payments collected on driver charging sessions at charging sites owned by ChargePoint customers, and other professional services. Revenue from regulatory credits is recognized at the point in time the regulatory credits are transferred. Revenue from fees for owned and operated sites is recognized over time on a straight-line basis over the performance period of the service contract as the Company has a stand-ready obligation to deliver such services. Revenue from driver charging sessions and charging transaction fees is recognized at the point in time the charging session or transaction is completed. Revenue from professional services is recognized as the services are rendered.
Remaining Performance Obligations
Remaining performance obligations represent the amount of contracted future revenue not yet recognized as the amounts relate to undelivered performance obligations, including both deferred revenue and non-cancelable contracted amounts that will be invoiced and recognized as revenue in future periods. The Company’s Assure, Cloud, and CPaaS subscription terms typically range from one to five years and are paid upfront. Revenue expected to be recognized from remaining performance obligations was $222.4 million as of January 31, 2023, of which 43% is expected to be recognized over the next twelve months and the remainder thereafter.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue represents billings or payments received in advance of revenue recognition and is recognized in revenue upon transfer of control. Balances consist primarily of software subscription services and extended Assure maintenance services not yet provided as of the balance sheet date. Contract assets, which represent services provided or products transferred to customers in advance of the date the Company has a right to invoice, are netted against deferred revenue on a customer-by-customer basis. Deferred revenue that will be recognized during the succeeding twelve-month period is recorded as deferred revenue with the remainder recorded as deferred revenue, noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheets.
The following table shows the total deferred revenue for each period presented.
January 31, 2023January 31, 2022
(in thousands)
Total deferred revenue$198,610 $146,808 
The following table shows the revenue recognized that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period.
Year Ended January 31,
202320222021
(in thousands)
Total deferred revenue recognized$77,142 $40,934 $39,400 
Cost of Revenue
Cost of Networked Charging Systems revenue includes the material costs for parts and manufacturing costs for the hardware products, compensation, including salaries and related personnel expenses, including stock-based compensation, warranty provisions, depreciation of manufacturing related equipment and facilities, and allocated overhead costs. Costs for shipping and handling are recorded in cost of revenue as incurred.
Cost of subscriptions revenue includes hosting, network and wireless connectivity costs for subscription services, field maintenance costs for Assure to support the Company’s network of systems, depreciation of owned and operated systems used in CPaaS arrangements, allocated overhead costs, and support costs to manage the systems and helpdesk services for site hosts.
Cost of other revenue includes depreciation and other costs for ChargePoint’s owned and operated charging sites, charging related processing charges, salaries and related personnel expenses, including stock-based compensation, as well as costs of environmental and professional services.
Costs to Obtain a Customer Contract
Incremental and recoverable costs for the sale of cloud enabled software and extended maintenance service plans are capitalized as deferred contract acquisition costs within prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and amortized on a straight-line basis over the anticipated benefit period of five years. The benefit period was estimated by taking into consideration the length of customer contracts, renewals, technology lifecycle, and other factors. This amortization is recorded within sales and marketing expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The sales commissions paid related to the sale of Networked Charging Systems are expensed as incurred.
The Company elected the practical expedient that permits the Company to apply ASC Subtopic 340-40, “Other Assets and Deferred Costs--Contracts with Customers,” (“ASC 340”) to a portfolio containing multiple contracts, as they are similar in their characteristics, and the financial statement effects of applying ASC Subtopic 340-40 to that portfolio would not differ materially from applying it to the individual contracts within that portfolio.
Changes in the deferred contract acquisition costs during the years ended January 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
(in thousands)
Balance as of January 31, 2021
$5,534 
Capitalization of deferred contract acquisition costs3,381 
Amortization of deferred contract acquisition costs(1,786)
Balance as of January 31, 2022
$7,129 
Capitalization of deferred contract acquisition costs3,374 
Amortization of deferred contract acquisition costs(2,361)
Balance as of January 31, 2023
$8,142 
Deferred acquisition costs capitalized on the consolidated balance sheets were as follows:
January 31
20232022
(in thousands)
Deferred contract acquisition costs, current$2,598 $2,104 
Deferred contract acquisition costs, noncurrent5,544 5,025 
Total deferred contract acquisition costs$8,142 $7,129 
Research and Development
Research and development expenses consist primarily of salary and related personnel expenses, including stock-based compensation, for personnel related to the development of improvements and expanded features for the Company’s products and services, as well as quality assurance, testing, product management, and allocated overhead. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Stock-based Compensation
The Company measures stock-based compensation expense for all stock-based awards granted to employees and directors based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the date of grant and recognizes stock-based compensation expense over the requisite
service period. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options and rights granted under the employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and the Monte Carlo simulation model to estimate the fair value of performance restricted stock units (“PRSUs”). The fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) equals the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on grant date.
The Company amortizes the fair value of each stock award, except for market-based PRSU, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards. For market-based PRSU, the Company amortizes using a graded-vesting attribution approach. Stock-based compensation expense is based on the value of the portion of stock-based awards that is ultimately expected to vest. As such, the Company’s stock-based compensation is reduced for the estimated forfeitures at the date of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
Advertising
The Company expenses the costs of advertising, including promotional expenses, as incurred. Advertising expenses for the years ended January 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 were not material.
Warranty
The Company provides standard warranty coverage on its products, providing parts necessary to repair the systems during the warranty period. The Company accounts for the estimated warranty cost as a charge to Networked Charging Systems cost of revenue when revenue is recognized. The estimated warranty cost is based on historical and predicted product failure rates and repair expenses. Warranty expense for the years ended January 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 was $5.4 million, $3.8 million, and $3.4 million, respectively.
In addition, the Company offers paid-for subscriptions to extended maintenance service plans under Assure. Assure provides both the labor and parts to maintain the products over the subscription terms of typically one to five years. The costs related to the Assure program are expensed as incurred and charged to subscriptions cost of revenue.
Foreign Currency
The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is generally the local currency. The translation of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for monetary assets and liabilities at the end of each reporting period based on the then current exchange rates. Non-monetary items are translated using historical exchange rates. For revenue and expense accounts, an average foreign currency rate during the period is applied. Adjustments resulting from translating foreign functional currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are recorded as part of a separate component of stockholders’ equity (deficit) and reported in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other income (expense), net for the period.
Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax expense or benefit is the result of changes in the deferred tax asset and liability. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets where it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating the Company’s ability to recover deferred tax assets, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including historical operating results, ongoing tax planning, and forecasts of future taxable income on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. Based on the level of historical losses, the Company has established a valuation allowance to reduce its net deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
A tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position.
Net Loss per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is presented in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities. The Company considers all series of its redeemable convertible preferred stock to be participating securities. The Company also considers any shares issued on the early exercise of stock options subject to repurchase to be participating securities because holders of such shares have nonforfeitable dividend rights in the event a dividend is paid on common stock. Under the two-class method, net income is attributed to common stockholders and participating securities based on their participation rights. The holders of the redeemable convertible preferred stock, as well as the holders of early exercised shares subject to repurchase, do not have a contractual obligation to share in the losses of the Company. As such, the Company’s net losses for the years ended January 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 were not allocated to these participating securities.
Under the two-class method, basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, less shares subject to repurchase. Diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders adjusts basic net loss per share for the effect of dilutive securities, including stock options.
Net loss amount is computed by adding deemed dividends and cumulative dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock, to net loss. As such, the amount of the loss is increased by those instruments. When computing dilutive net loss, the numerator is also adjusted by changes in fair value attributable to dilutive warrants and gains attributable to Earnout Shares issued. As a result, some of the liability classified Company’s common stock warrants and Earnout Shares issued were dilutive, even though the Company reported losses for all periods presented.
Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2020-06, “Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40),” which modifies and simplifies accounting for convertible instruments. The new guidance eliminates certain separation models that require separating embedded conversion features from convertible instruments. The guidance also addresses how convertible instruments are accounted for in the diluted earnings per share calculation. The guidance became effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company adopted the amendments effective February 1, 2022. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-10, “Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance,” which requires entities to disclose annually its transactions with a government accounted for by applying a grant or contribution accounting model by analogy. The disclosure requirement includes information about the nature of the transactions and the related accounting policy used to account for the transactions, the line items on the consolidated balance sheets and income statement that are affected by the transactions, and the amounts applicable to each financial statement line, and significant terms and conditions of the transactions, including commitments and contingencies. The guidance became effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early application is permitted. The Company adopted the amendments effective February 1, 2022. The adoption of ASU 2021-10 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.