period of at least the next 12 months and longer term until we generate adequate cash flows from licensing activities and/or electrolyte sales.
We may, however, need additional cash if there are material changes to our business conditions or other developments, including changes to our operating plan, development progress, delays in negotiations with OEMs, cell manufacturers or other suppliers, market adoption of EVs, supply chain challenges, competitive pressures, inflation, and regulatory developments. To the extent that our resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may need to seek additional equity or debt financing. We also may opportunistically seek to enhance our liquidity through equity or debt financing, if such financing becomes available to us on terms that we consider favorable. If the financing is not available, or if the terms of financing are less desirable than we expect, we may be forced to take actions to reduce our capital or operating expenditures, which may adversely affect our development, business, operating results, financial condition and prospects.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities for the periods presented:
| | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
(in thousands) | | 2023 | | 2022 | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | $ | (19,631) | | $ | (14,369) | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | $ | (20,677) | | $ | (48,881) | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | $ | 73 | | $ | 208 | |
Cash flows used in operating activities:
Cash used in operating activities increased from March 31, 2022 to 2023 primarily attributable to our operating loss, which was driven by continued increase in research and development costs and general and administrative expenses. We continue to expect cash flows used in operating activities to increase as we accelerate both the pace and scope of our development efforts, and work to achieve commercialization of our products. We continue to anticipate increased expenditures for research and development and general and administrative functions to support growth of our development efforts.
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Cash used in investing activities decreased from March 31, 2022 to 2023 primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures, investments in patents, and the net effect of increased purchase and sales of marketable securities. Capital expenditures were primarily for custom manufacturing equipment in connection with our expansion of electrolyte production capabilities. We continue to expect cash used in investing activities to increase as we finalize the build out of our electrolyte production facility and increase its production capabilities, and as we increase our electrolyte production scale. Each of our locations will continue to require investment in specialized equipment to facilitate the manufacturing process of our electrolyte material and battery cells. As our production processes are scaled in the future, especially with respect to our electrolyte material, we expect capital expenditures to increase.
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was primarily from the cash exercise of stock options.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We are not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC rules.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Except as discussed in Note 2 of our unaudited financial statements included in this Report, there were no significant and material changes in our critical accounting policies and use of estimates during the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to those disclosed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates” in our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2023.