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ECOtality Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011 Results


ecotality (select to view enlarged photo)

SAN FRANCISCO--April 16, 2012: ECOtality, Inc. , a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.

“In 2011, we installed approximately 5,000 BlinkŪ charging stations and collected over 13 million miles of testing data for the EV Project while extending our reach into digital media and utility services.”

Revenue for the fourth quarter 2011 was $8.5 million, compared with $4.4 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2010. Fourth quarter 2011 revenue includes the effect of a $2.2 million non-cash affecting deferral of revenue related to the EV Project. Revenue for fiscal year 2011 grew to $28.4 million, an increase of 107 percent, compared with $13.7 million reported in fiscal year 2010.

"2011 was a year of building a foundation for expansion as we made solid progress on the national roll-out of our BlinkŪ charging network and developed opportunities to monetize this network," stated Jonathan Read, President and CEO of ECOtality. "In 2011, we installed approximately 5,000 BlinkŪ charging stations and collected over 13 million miles of testing data for the EV Project while extending our reach into digital media and utility services."

Read continued, "Over 17,000 plug-in electric vehicles (EV) were sold in 2011, and 2012 is off to a good start with over 7,000 sold in the first quarter. As the EV market gains traction, ECOtality is well positioned to leverage its BlinkŪ Network to deliver long-term value. Looking ahead, we will continue to execute upon our business plan, deliver upon the EV Project and develop new channels to market."

2011 Operational Highlights:

  • Awarded a five-year $26.4 million contract for Advanced Vehicle Testing and Evaluation by the U.S. Department of Energy through a highly competitive bidding process
  • Installed BlinkŪ residential and commercial charging stations in every major EV Project market to expand the Blink network to 34 states in the U.S.
  • Partnered with Outcast to launch a digital advertising network utilizing BlinkŪ EV charging stations
  • Partnered with IKEA, Walmart, American Electric Power, Kohl's, Sears, and Macy's Department Stores to install ECOtality's BlinkŪ Pedestal electric vehicle charging stations
  • Collaborated with Silver Spring Networks to integrate ECOtality's BlinkŪ electric vehicle charging stations with the Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform
  • Received Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification for the BlinkŪ DC Fast Charge system
  • Installed the first BlinkŪ DC Fast Charge system at the Hollywood Fred Meyer store in Portland, Oregon and at the Lebanon Cracker Barrel Store in Tennessee
  • Provided electric vehicle charging infrastructure in partnership with car2go to support the first 100-percent electric car sharing program in North America
  • Launched the BlinkŪ mobile application for smartphones and mobile devices with a map to identify BlinkŪ Chargers on the go, and charger information and status

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Financial Results Ended December 31, 2011:

The company reported revenue of $8.5 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared with $9.5 million in the prior quarter. The revenue decline primarily results from a $2.2 million non-cash affecting revenue deferral related to revenue recognition of the EV Project. Net loss for the three-month period ended December 31, 2011 was $6.7 million, compared with $3.4 million in the third quarter of 2011.

Revenue for fiscal year 2011 was $28.4 million, a 107 percent increase, compared with $13.7 million in fiscal year 2010. Net loss for fiscal year 2011 was $22.5 million compared with $16.4 million in fiscal year 2010.

First Quarter 2012 Operational Highlights:

  • Expanded management team with the appointments of Murray Jones as chief operating officer and Paul Gordon as chief technology officer
  • Signed a $5 million licensing agreement with ABB to utilize the BlinkŪ electric vehicle charging network
  • ABB Technology Ventures Ltd made a $5 million follow-on investment in the form of a convertible note due 2015
  • Awarded the Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer Award, an award given to 10 total companies around the world that are forever changing the energy landscape
  • Partnered with Regency Centers to install approximately 40 BlinkŪ electric vehicle charging stations at 19 Regency locations nationwide
  • Partnered with South Lake Union Discovery Center, operated by Vulcan Real Estate, to install the first BlinkŪ DC Fast Charger in the Seattle area

Cash and Liquidity

ECOtality ended 2011 with approximately $10.2 million in cash and equivalents and restricted cash compared with $13.5 million in the prior quarter. On March 14, 2012, the company issued and sold to ABB Ventures Ltd. $5.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.05% unsecured convertible notes due 2015.

Conference Call Details:

Date: April 16, 2012
Time: 4:30 PM EDT
Dial-In Number: (877) 941-1427
International Dial-In Number: (480) 629-9664

Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing (877) 941-1427 or (480) 629-9664 for international callers. Please call five to ten minutes prior to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. When prompted, ask for the ECOtality Shareholder Update Call. A telephonic replay may be accessed approximately two hours after the call, through April 23, 2012, by dialing (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 for international callers and entering the replay access code 4531577. The teleconference will be webcast simultaneously on the ECOtality website at ECOtality Investors.

About ECOtality, Inc.

ECOtality, Inc. , headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies. Through innovation, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, ECOtality accelerates the market applicability of advanced electric technologies to replace carbon-based fuels. For more information about ECOtality, Inc., please visit ECOtality.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

ECOtality, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
December 31, 2011 December 31, 2010
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,591 $ 3,845
Restricted cash 587 1,174

Receivables, net of allowance for bad debts of $81 and $80 as of 12/31/11 and 12/31/10, respectively

3,124 1,901

Inventory, net of allowance for excess and obsolete items of $284 and $362 as of 12/31/11 and 12/31/10, respectively

15,497 1,860
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 732 954
Total current assets 29,531 9,734
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 16,630 3,210
Long term receivable 147 -
Goodwill 3,496 3,496
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization 709 352
Total assets $ 50,513 $ 16,792
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 10,939 $ 1,821
Accrued legal fees 125 612
Accrued payroll 793 431
Unearned revenue, current portion 11,078 680
Warranty reserves 577 262
Current portion of long term debt 1,647 -
Accrued liabilities, other 2,439 1,745
Total current liabilities 27,598 5,551
Long term liabilities:
Long term portion of unearned revenue 121 -
Long term debt 109 288
Total long term liabilities 230 288
Stockholders' equity:
Series A Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 6,330 and 6,380 shares issued and outstanding as of 12/31/11 and 12/31/10, respectively 6 6
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 1,300,000 shares authorized, 23,915 and 11,058 shares issued and outstanding as of 12/31/11 and 12/31/10, respectively 24 11
Additional paid-in capital 127,488 93,283
Subscription receivable - -
Accumulated deficit (104,759 ) (82,287 )
Accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments (74 ) (60 )
Total stockholders' equity 22,685 10,953
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 50,513 $ 16,792
ECOtality, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Years ended
December 31,
2011 2010
Revenue $ 28,409 $ 13,737
Cost of goods sold 27,718 13,182
Gross profit 691 555
Operating Expenses:
General and administrative expenses 19,839 16,408
Depreciation and amortization 465 539
Research and development 622 259
Warrant expense 1,784 -
Total operating expenses 22,710 17,206
Loss from operations (22,019 ) (16,651 )
Other income (expense):
Interest income 22 40
Interest expense (489 ) (16 )
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets 18 (133 )
Other income 5 318
Total other income (expense) (444 ) 209
Net Loss before tax (22,463 ) (16,442 )
Provision income tax (9 ) -
Net Loss $ (22,472 ) $ (16,442 )
Net Loss per share - basic and diluted $ (1.20 ) $ (1.78 )

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted

18,734 $ 9,254
Comprehensive loss
Net Loss $ (22,472 ) $ (16,442 )
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments (14 ) (5 )
Comprehensive loss $ (22,486 ) $ (16,447 )
ECOtality, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended
December 31,
2011 2010
Revenue $ 8,525 $ 4,428
Cost of goods sold 8,867 4,644
Gross profit (343 ) (215 )
Operating Expenses:
General and administrative expenses 5,655 3,521
Depreciation and amortization 151 112
Research and development 260 59
Warrant expense - -
Total operating expenses 6,066 3,692
Loss from operations (6,409 ) (3,908 )
Other income (expense):
Interest income 4 5
Interest expense (278 ) (5 )
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets (9 ) 3
Other income (8 ) -
Total other income (expense) (291 ) 3
Net Loss before tax (6,700 ) (3,905 )
Provision for income taxes (9 ) -
Net Loss $ (6,709 ) $ (3,905 )
Net Loss per share - basic and diluted $ (0.28 ) $ (0.37 )

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted

$ 23,857 $ 10,419