- In-car toilet stows underneath passenger seat.
- Release with a push or by voice command.
- Dedicated fan and exhaust system included.
Chinese carmaker Seres has been granted a patent for an in-car toilet that would be deployed from underneather a passenger seat, either with a push (no pun intended) or by voice command.
According to a report by BBC News, the patent was filed on April 10 with an engineers' explanation that the feature would "satisfy users' toilet needs on long journeys, while camping or while staying in the car".
You could argue it's not that different to a self-contained motorhome. But it kind of is, given you're actually sitting on top of the toilet as your regular seat. And you're in a car, with no separate bathroom.
The toilet would come with a dedicated fan and exhaust system to channel odours out of the car's cabin. A heating element would evaporate urine and dry other waste.
Seres has not announced specific plans for vehicles with the integrated loo. But now, the potential is there.
Seres is known for its electric SUVs in China, but has several research and development facilities around the world, including a subsidiary in Santa Clara, California, called SF Motors. It also collaborates with Huawei on the Aito brand of EVs.