Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Policies

Description of the Company and its Business

Enova Systems, Inc., (“Enova”, “We” or “the Company”), a California corporation, was incorporated in July 1976, and trades on the OTCQB under the trading symbol “ENVS” and on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “ENV” or “ENVS”.  The Company believes it has been a globally recognized leader as a supplier of efficient, environmentally-friendly digital power components and systems products, in conjunction with associated engineering services. The Company’s core competencies are focused on the commercialization of power management and conversion systems for mobile and stationary applications.

THE DISCUSSION SET FORTH BELOW AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS 10-Q IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE FOLLOWING: ENOVA REMAINS INSOLVENT AND OWES IN EXCESS OF $4.5 MILLION IN THE AGGREGATE TO ITS TWO PRINCIPAL CREDITORS, THE CREDIT MANAGERS ASSOCIATION AND ARENS CONTROLS COMPANY, L.L.C. (“ARENS"). WITHOUT IMMEDIATE ADDITIONAL FINANCING OR COLLECTION OF RECEIVABLES, THE COMPANY WILL NEED TO CEASE OPERATIONS. THE COMPANY CURRENTLY HAS NO VISIBILITY AS TO EITHER ADDITIONAL FINANCING OR THE COLLECTION OF RECEIVABLES. SPECIFICALLY, WITHOUT A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE SETTLEMENT OF THE ARENS JUDGMENT ARISING OUT OF ARENS CONTROLS COMPANY, L.L.C. v. ENOVA SYSTEMS, INC., CASE NO. 13-1102 (7TH CIRCUIT) IN THE AMOUNT OF $2.0 MILLION, THE COMPANY DOES NOT CURRENTLY BELIEVE IT HAS ANY ALTERNATIVE OTHER THAN TO CEASE OPERATIONS. THE COMPANY CURRENTLY EMPLOYS ONLY TWO PERSONNEL, JOHN MICEK, THE COMPANY'S CEO, CFO AND SECRETARY, AND ONE ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2013, THE COMPANY ENTERED INTO A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH ARENS PROVIDING A PERIOD OF 120 DAYS TO SETTLE THE JUDGMENT FOR THE AMOUNT OF $300,000.  THE COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE VISIBILITY FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCING TO MAKE PAYMENT UNDER THE AGREEMENT.

Basis of Presentation Interim Financial Statements

The financial information as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 is unaudited but includes all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that the Company considers necessary for a fair statement of its financial position at such dates and the operating results and cash flows for those periods. The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, and certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules or regulations; however, the Company believes the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make 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. Although management believes these estimates and assumptions are adequate, actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions used.

The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the year. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended.

Liquidity and Going Concern

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. However, historically the Company has experienced significant recurring net losses and operating cash flow deficits. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on many factors, including among others, its ability to raise additional funding, and its ability to successfully restructure operations to lower manufacturing costs and reduce operating expenses.

  To date, the Company has incurred recurring net losses and negative cash flows from operations. At September 30, 2013, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $160.4 million, cash and cash equivalents of negative $2,000, working capital of approximately negative $1,218,000 and shareholders’ deficit of approximately $3.7 million. Until the Company can generate significant cash from its operations, the Company expects to continue to fund its operations with existing cash resources, proceeds from one or more private placement agreements, as well as potentially through debt financing or the sale of equity securities. However, the Company may not be successful in obtaining additional funding. In addition, the Company cannot be sure that its existing cash and investment resources will be adequate or that additional financing will be available when needed or that, if available, financing will be obtained on terms favorable to the Company or its stockholders.

Our operations will require us to make necessary investments in human and production resources, regulatory compliance, as well as sales and marketing efforts. We do not currently have adequate internal liquidity to meet these objectives in the long term. On June 21, 2012, we reported in a Form 8-K filing that, as part of cost cutting measures in response to our decrease in revenue amid continued delays in industry adoption of EV technology resulting from ongoing battery cost and reliability concerns, in excess of 80% of our workforce left our Company, including the resignation of members of our senior management. We continue to evaluate strategic partnering opportunities and other external sources of liquidity, including the public and private financial markets and strategic partners. As a result of having insufficient funds, the Company has delayed all of its product development.  Failure to obtain adequate financing also will adversely affect the Company’s ability to continue in business. If the Company raises additional funds by issuing equity securities, substantial dilution to existing stockholders would likely result. If the Company raises additional funds by incurring debt financing, the terms of the debt may involve significant cash payment obligations, as well as covenants and specific financial ratios that may restrict its ability to operate its business.

The Company continues to pursue other options to raise additional capital to fund its operations; however, there can be no assurance that we can successfully raise additional funds through the capital markets.

As of September 30, 2013, the Company had approximately negative $2,000 in cash and cash equivalents and does not anticipate that its anticipated receivables collections will be sufficient to meet its projected operating requirements through December 2013 to continue operations and market trading.  

Significant Accounting Policies

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to US GAAP. There have been no significant changes in the Company's significant accounting policies during the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to what was previously disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Revenue Recognition

The Company manufactures proprietary products and other products based on design specifications provided by its customers. The Company recognizes revenue only when all of the following criteria have been met:

• Persuasive Evidence of an Arrangement — The Company documents all terms of an arrangement in a written contract signed by the customer prior to recognizing revenue.

• Delivery Has Occurred or Services Have Been Rendered — The Company performs all services or delivers all products prior to recognizing revenue. Professional consulting and engineering services are considered to be performed when the services are complete. Equipment is considered delivered upon delivery to a customer’s designated location. In certain instances, the customer elects to take title upon shipment. 

• The Fee for the Arrangement is Fixed or Determinable — Prior to recognizing revenue, a customer’s fee is either fixed or determinable under the terms of the written contract. Fees for professional consulting services, engineering services and equipment sales are fixed under the terms of the written contract. The customer’s fee is negotiated at the outset of the arrangement and is not subject to refund or adjustment during the initial term of the arrangement.

• Collectability is Reasonably Assured — The Company determines that collectability is reasonably assured prior to recognizing revenue. Collectability is assessed on a customer-by-customer basis based on criteria outlined by management. New customers are subject to a credit review process which evaluates the customer’s financial position and ultimately its ability to pay. The Company does not enter into arrangements unless collectability is reasonably assured at the outset. Existing customers are subject to ongoing credit evaluations based on payment history and other factors. If it is determined during the arrangement that collectability is not reasonably assured, revenue is recognized on a cash basis. Amounts received upfront for engineering or development fees under multiple-element arrangements are deferred and recognized over the period of committed services or performance, if such arrangements require the Company to provide on-going services or performance. All amounts received under collaborative research agreements or research and development contracts are nonrefundable, regardless of the success of the underlying research.

The Company recognizes revenue from milestone payments over the remaining minimum period of performance obligations.

The Company also recognizes engineering and construction contract revenues using the percentage-of-completion method, based primarily on contract costs incurred to date compared with total estimated contract costs. Customer-furnished materials, labor, and equipment, and in certain cases subcontractor materials, labor, and equipment, are included in revenues and cost of revenues when management believes that the company is responsible for the ultimate acceptability of the project. Contracts are segmented between types of services, such as engineering and construction, and accordingly, revenue and gross margin related to each activity is recognized as those separate services are rendered.

Changes to total estimated contract costs or losses, if any, are recognized in the period in which they are determined. Claims against customers are recognized as revenue upon settlement. Revenues recognized in excess of amounts received are classified as current assets. Amounts billed to clients in excess of revenues recognized to date are classified as current liabilities on contracts.

Changes in project performance and conditions, estimated profitability, and final contract settlements may result in future revisions to engineering and development contract costs and revenue.

These accounting policies were applied consistently for all periods presented. Our operating results would be affected if other alternatives were used. Information about the impact on our operating results is included in the footnotes to our financial statements.

Several other factors related to the Company may have a significant impact on our operating results from year to year. For example, the accounting rules governing the timing of revenue recognition related to product contracts are complex and it can be difficult to estimate when we will recognize revenue generated by a given transaction. Factors such as acceptance of services provided, payment terms, creditworthiness of the customer, and timing of delivery or acceptance of our products often cause revenues related to sales generated in one period to be deferred and recognized in later periods. For arrangements in which services revenue is deferred, related direct and incremental costs may also be deferred.

Deferred Revenue

The Company recognizes revenues as earned. Amounts billed in advance of the period in which service is rendered are recorded as a liability under deferred revenues. When the Company enters into production and development contracts with customers, an evaluation is made to ascertain the specific revenue generating activities of each contract and establishes the units of accounting for each activity. Revenue on these units of accounting is not recognized until a) there is persuasive evidence of the existence of a contract, b) the service has been rendered and delivery has occurred, c) there is a fixed and determinable price, and d) collectability is reasonable assured.

Warranty Costs

The Company provides product warranties for specific product lines and accrues for estimated future warranty costs in the period in which revenue is recognized. Our products are generally warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 12 to 24 months from the date of installation, subject to standard limitations for equipment that has been altered by other than Enova Systems personnel and equipment which has been subject to negligent use. Warranty provisions are based on past experience of product returns, number of units repaired and our historical warranty incidence over the past twenty-four month period. The warranty liability is evaluated on an ongoing basis for adequacy and may be adjusted as additional information regarding expected warranty costs becomes known.

Stock Based Compensation

We measure the compensation cost for stock-based awards classified as equity at their fair value on the date of grant and recognize compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest, net of estimated forfeitures.

Accounting Changes and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Certain accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.