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Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements - Restatement Background (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Jan. 01, 2018
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset | $ 117,016 | $ 90,184 | $ 71,789 | $ 64,812 | $ 63,266 | $ 47,016 | $ 39,679 | $ 33,599 | $ 71,789 | $ 39,679 | $ 90,184 | $ 47,016 | $ 117,016 | $ 63,266 |  |
Operating Lease, Liability | 113,938 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 113,938 |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 135,632 | 68,010 | 50,522 | 83,861 | 54,892 | 51,324 | 29,250 | 118,532 | 80,574 | 254,164 | 135,466 | 376,179 | 219,327 | $ 200,219 |
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic | (484,105) | (65,217) | (9,414) | (37,445) | (19,277) | (18,366) | (17,351) | (30,560) | (46,859) | (47,911) | (112,076) | (66,277) | (596,181) | (85,555) | (85,660) |
Increase in accumulated deficit | (1,946,488) | (1,462,377) | (1,397,160) | (1,387,752) | (1,350,307) | (1,332,259) | (1,314,425) | (1,297,072) | (1,397,160) | (1,314,425) | (1,462,377) | (1,332,259) | (1,946,488) | (1,350,307) |  |
Research and Development Expense |  | 7,386 | 4,873 | 4,774 | 4,882 | 3,563 | 3,608 | 3,006 | 9,647 | 6,614 | 17,033 | 10,177 | 27,848 | 15,059 | 12,750 |
Nonoperating Income (Expense) |  | (17,551) | (13,462) | (11,846) | (10,999) | (8,273) | (7,965) | (8,454) | (25,308) | (16,419) | (42,859) | (24,692) | (60,484) | (35,691) | (22,750) |
Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,430 |  |  |
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 58,500 | 37,700 |  |
Other current liabilities | 29,487 | 21,083 | 19,418 | 8,446 | 6,704 | 8,373 | 3,705 | 3,745 | 19,418 | 3,705 | 21,083 | 8,373 | 29,487 | 6,704 |  |
Other liabilities | 40,447 | 45,170 | 14,476 | 2,386 | 2,818 | 2,834 | 3,333 | 3,746 | 14,476 | 3,333 | 45,170 | 2,834 | 40,447 | 2,818 |  |
Finance Lease, Liability | 5,396 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,396 |  |  |
Finance obligations | 32,717 | 31,349 | 28,794 | 26,209 | 24,667 | 20,469 | 12,455 | 11,028 | 28,794 | 12,455 | 31,349 | 20,469 | 32,717 | 24,667 |  |
Financing Transaction Finance Obligation Amount | $ 148,836 | 140,662 | 131,653 | 121,322 | 119,422 | 99,669 | 76,916 | 54,864 | 131,653 | 76,916 | 140,662 | 99,669 | 148,836 | 119,422 |  |
Series E Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends, Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,800 |  |
Provision (benefit) for loss contracts related to service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 25,147 | 706 | 95 | 13 | 206 | 363 | 162 | 801 | 201 | 25,948 | 407 | 35,473 | 394 | 5,345 |
Sales of fuel cell systems and related infrastructure |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 69,428 | 33,888 | 13,974 | 47,091 | 25,183 | 23,329 | 2,312 | 47,862 | 25,641 | 117,290 | 50,824 | 171,404 | 97,915 | 85,205 |
Sales of fuel cell systems and related infrastructure | Revision of Research and Development Expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,000 |  |
Fuel delivered to customers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 17,002 | 11,076 | 11,254 | 12,800 | 11,149 | 11,146 | 10,152 | 22,330 | 21,298 | 39,332 | 32,447 | 61,815 | 45,247 | 36,037 |
Fuel delivered to customers | Revision of Research and Development Expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,900 |  |
Services performed on fuel cell systems and related infrastructure |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 9,180 | 7,773 | 10,347 | 11,606 | 7,802 | 8,383 | 6,791 | 18,120 | 15,174 | 27,300 | 22,976 | 42,524 | 34,582 | 32,271 |
Power Purchase Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 14,744 | 14,504 | 14,771 | 12,301 | 10,814 | 8,829 | 9,833 | 29,275 | 18,662 | 44,019 | 29,476 | $ 64,640 | 41,777 | 41,361 |
Restatement Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset |  | 90,184 | 71,789 | 64,812 | 63,266 | 47,016 | 39,679 | 33,599 | 71,789 | 39,679 | 90,184 | 47,016 |  | 63,266 |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 27,353 | 5,016 | 5,238 | 4,979 | 3,778 | 4,410 | 3,887 | 10,254 | 8,297 | 37,607 | 12,075 |  | 17,054 | 28,209 |
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic |  | (25,838) | (745) | 47 | (989) | (209) | 756 | 444 | (705) | 1,161 | (26,543) | 952 |  | (38) | (7,493) |
Increase in accumulated deficit |  | (31,037) | (5,199) | (4,453) | (4,500) | (4,741) | (5,062) | (5,817) | (5,199) | (5,062) | (31,037) | (4,741) |  | (4,500) |  |
Research and Development Expense |  | (4,578) | (4,884) | (5,638) | (4,459) | (4,465) | (5,325) | (4,367) | (10,522) | (9,692) | (15,100) | (14,157) |  | (18,616) | (21,157) |
Nonoperating Income (Expense) |  | (310) | (264) | (263) | (193) | (301) | (104) | (109) | (527) | (213) | (837) | (514) |  | (189) | (615) |
Other current liabilities |  | 3,803 | (2,274) | (1,977) | (1,839) | (1,865) | 688 | 1,474 | (2,274) | 688 | 3,803 | (1,865) |  | (1,839) |  |
Other liabilities |  | 18,102 | 2,720 | 2,373 | 2,805 | 2,821 | 3,320 | 3,729 | 2,720 | 3,320 | 18,102 | 2,821 |  | 2,805 |  |
Finance obligations |  | (32,343) | (28,901) | (25,838) | (24,840) | (20,643) | (18,208) | (12,969) | (28,901) | (18,208) | (32,343) | (20,643) |  | (24,840) |  |
Financing Transaction Finance Obligation Amount |  | (196,488) | (169,000) | (150,849) | (145,806) | (108,796) | (80,615) | (56,331) | (169,000) | (80,615) | (196,488) | (108,796) |  | (145,806) |  |
Restatement Adjustments | Series E Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,800 |  |
Dividends, Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,800 | 1,800 |
Restatement Adjustments | Revision of Lease Liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increase in accumulated deficit |  |  |  |  | 4,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,500 | 6,200 |
Restatement Adjustments | Revision of Deemed Dividend [Member] | Series E Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deemed Dividend |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,800 |  |
Restatement Adjustments | Revision of Research and Development Expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,100 |  |
Research and Development Expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (19,492) | (21,157) |
Restatement Adjustments | Cumulative effect from adoption of ASC 842 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increase in accumulated deficit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,400
Restatement Adjustments | Provision (benefit) for loss contracts related to service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 20,841 | 706 | 95 | 13 | 206 | 363 | 162 | 801 | 201 | 21,642 | 407 |  | 394 | 5,345 |
Restatement Adjustments | Sales of fuel cell systems and related infrastructure |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 919 | 212 | 230 | 672 | 193 | 200 | (9) | 442 | 191 | 1,361 | 384 |  | 1,056 | 766 |
Restatement Adjustments | Sales of fuel cell systems and related infrastructure | Revision of Research and Development Expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 614 |
Restatement Adjustments | Fuel delivered to customers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 2,830 | 2,016 | 2,219 | 2,378 | 1,989 | 2,292 | 2,231 | 4,235 | 4,523 | 7,065 | 6,512 |  | 8,890 | 8,325 |
Restatement Adjustments | Fuel delivered to customers | Revision of Research and Development Expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,300 |
Restatement Adjustments | Services performed on fuel cell systems and related infrastructure |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | 2,106 | 1,282 | 2,166 | 1,607 | 1,341 | 2,165 | 668 | 3,448 | 2,833 | 5,554 | 4,174 |  | 5,781 | 8,573 |
Restatement Adjustments | Services performed on fuel cell systems and related infrastructure | Revision of Research and Development Expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,500 | 8,000 |
Restatement Adjustments | Power Purchase Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  | $ 657 | $ 800 | $ 528 | $ 309 | $ 461 | $ 116 | $ 835 | $ 1,328 | $ 951 | $ 1,985 | $ 1,412 |  | $ 1,721 | 5,200 |
Restatement Adjustments | Power Purchase Agreements | Revision of Research and Development Expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cost of revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,200 |

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