Carmaker patents voice-controlled ‘in-vehicle toilet’

As reported by the BBC:

Chinese carmaker Seres has been granted a patent for what it calls an “in-vehicle toilet” that slides under a passenger's seat for visits to the loo while on the road.

The feature is meant to “satisfy users’ toilet needs on long journeys, while camping or while staying in the car”, engineers wrote in Seres’ patent filing in China on 10 April.

Seres, based in the south-west city of Chongqing, has not announced any cars that have toilets and it is uncertain if any will be made.

Chinese electric vehicles have become increasingly packed with unconventional features, like built-in massage seats, karaoke systems and a fridge, to stand out in a highly competitive market.

The patent filing shows Seres’ plans for an onboard toilet that slides out from the bottom of a passenger's seat with a push or through voice-activated commands.

The loo will come with a fan and exhaust pipe to channel odours out of the car, according to the filing on China’s intellectual property administration seen by the BBC.

Waste is collected in a tank that has to be emptied manually. The toilet also features a rotating heating element that evaporates urine and dries other waste.

When not in use, the toilet is concealed beneath the seat, making full use of the space inside a car without requiring more room.