Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and these notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and may result in material effects on the Company’s operating results and financial position. Significant estimates made in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements include (but are not limited to) those related to revenue recognition, fair value measurements, goodwill and long-lived asset valuations and impairment assessments, income tax valuations, stock-based compensation expense and stock-based sales incentive charges.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

In connection with the Company’s Zero Now truck financing program, the Company entered into commodity swap contracts in October 2018 intended to manage risks related to the diesel-to-natural gas price spread in connection with the natural gas fuel supply commitments the Company makes in its fueling agreements with fleet operators that participate in the Zero Now program. The Company has not designated any derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and does not enter into such instruments for speculative trading purposes. These derivative instruments are recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and are measured as either an asset or liability at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. See Note 7 for more information.

Leases

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases, whereby leases are classified as either operating leases or finance leases.

At the inception of a contract the Company assesses whether the contract is, or contains, a lease. The Company’s assessment is based on: (1) whether the contract involves the use of a distinct identified asset, (2) whether the Company obtains the right to substantially all the economic benefit from the use of the asset throughout the period, and (3) whether the Company has the right to direct the use of the asset. The commencement date of the contract is the date the lessor makes the underlying asset available for use by the lessee.

Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset during the lease term and lease liabilities represent obligations to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the net present value of fixed lease payments over the lease term. ROU assets also include any initial direct costs and advance lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Lease liabilities also include terminal purchase options when deemed reasonably certain to exercise. The Company’s lease term includes options to extend when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise that option. The Company has elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases that have a term of 12 months or less; the Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

As most of the Company’s operating leases do not have an implicit rate that can be readily determined, the Company uses its secured incremental borrowing rate for the same term as the underlying lease based on information available at lease commencement. For finance leases, the Company uses the rate implicit in the lease.

The lease classification affects the expense recognition on the consolidated statements of operations. Operating lease charges are recorded in “Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization,” and “Selling, general and administrative” expense. Finance lease charges are split, whereby depreciation on assets under finance leases is recorded in “Depreciation and amortization” expense and an implied interest component is recorded in “Interest expense.” The expense recognition for operating leases and finance leases is substantially consistent with legacy accounting.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of costs incurred over the fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses. The Company assesses its goodwill using either a qualitative or quantitative approach to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit is less than its carrying value. The Company is required to use judgment when applying the goodwill impairment test, including, among other considerations, the identification of reporting unit(s), the assessment of qualitative factors, and the estimation of fair value of a reporting unit in the quantitative approach. The Company determined that it is a single reporting unit for the purpose of goodwill impairment tests. The Company performs the impairment test annually on October 1, or more frequently if facts and circumstances warrant a review.

The qualitative goodwill assessment includes the potential impact on a reporting unit’s fair value of certain events and circumstances, including its enterprise value, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, and other relevant entity-specific events. If it is determined, based upon the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, then a quantitative impairment test is performed.

The quantitative assessment estimates the reporting unit’s fair value based on its enterprise value plus an assumed control premium as evidence of fair value. The estimates used to determine the fair value of the reporting unit may change based on results of operations, macroeconomic conditions, stock price fluctuations, or other factors. Changes in these estimates could materially affect our assessment of the fair value and goodwill impairment for the reporting unit.

During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, the Company utilized the quantitative approach and concluded there were no indicators of impairment to goodwill.

The following table summarizes the activity related to the carrying amount of goodwill (in thousands):


Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	64,328
Balance as of December 31, 2020	$	64,328
Balance as of December 31, 2021	$	64,328

Alternative Fuels Tax Credit

Alternative Fuel Tax Credit

Under separate pieces of U.S. federal legislation, the Company has been eligible to receive a federal alternative fuels tax credit (“AFTC”) for its natural gas vehicle fuel sales made between October 1, 2006 and December 31, 2021. The AFTC, which had previously expired on December 31, 2016, was reinstated on February 9, 2018 to apply retroactively to vehicle fuel sales made from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. On December 20, 2019, AFTC was retroactively extended beginning January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 and subsequently extended for vehicle fuel sales made through December 31, 2021.

As a result of the legislation authorizing AFTC being signed into law on December 20, 2019, all AFTC revenue for vehicle fuel the Company sold in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years, totaling $47.1 million, was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2019. AFTC was extended in December 2020 and is currently available for vehicle fuel sales made through December 31, 2021. The AFTC credit is equal to $0.50 per gasoline gallon equivalent of CNG that the Company sold as vehicle fuel, and $0.50 per diesel gallon of LNG that the Company sold as vehicle fuel in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Based on the service relationship with its customers, either the Company or its customer claims the credit. The Company records its AFTC credits, if any, as revenue in its consolidated statements of operations because the credits are fully payable to the Company and do not offset income tax liabilities. As such, the credits are not deemed income tax credits under the accounting guidance applicable to income taxes.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were $1.2 million, $0.0 million and $0.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Amazon Warrant

The Amazon Warrant (as defined in Note 13) is accounted for as an equity instrument and measured in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. To determine the fair value of the Amazon Warrant, the Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which is based in part on assumptions that require management to use judgment. For awards granted to a customer, which are not in exchange for distinct goods or services, the fair value of the awards earned based on service or performance conditions is recorded as a reduction of

the transaction price in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Based on the fair value of the award, the Company determines the amount of non-cash stock-based sales incentive charges on the customer’s pro-rata achievement of vesting conditions, which is recorded as a reduction of revenue in the consolidated statements of operations.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and common shares issuable for little or no cash consideration during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and common shares issuable for little or no cash consideration during the period and potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period, and therefore reflects the dilution from common shares that may be issued upon exercise or conversion of these potentially dilutive securities, such as stock options, warrants, convertible notes and restricted stock units. The dilutive effect of stock awards and warrants is computed under the treasury stock method. The dilutive effect of convertible notes and restricted stock units is computed under the if-converted method. Potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computations of diluted net income (loss) per share if their effect would be antidilutive.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity (net assets) of a business enterprise during the period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The difference between net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021 was comprised of the Company’s foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This new standard clarifies and simplifies the accounting for income taxes, including guidance related to intraperiod tax allocation, the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the application of income tax guidance to franchise taxes that are partially based on income. This standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted in any interim period within that year. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2021. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-05, Leases (Topic 842): Lessors–Certain Leases with Variable Lease Payments. This new accounting amendment requires a lessor to classify leases with variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate as operating leases on the commencement date if classification as a sales-type or direct financing lease would result in a day-one loss. The amendment in this update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting amendment and does not expect the update to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance, which requires business entities (except for not-for-profit entities and employee benefit plans) to disclose information about certain government assistance they receive. The Topic 832 disclosure requirements include: (i) the nature of the transactions and the related accounting policy used; (ii) the line items on the balance sheet and income statement that are affected and the amounts applicable to each financial statement line item; and (iii) significant terms and conditions of the transactions. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December

15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new ASU and does not expect the update to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.