Voice-controlled 'in-vehicle toilet' patent issued by Chinese automaker

 

Seres and its subsidiary brand Aito are known for electric sports utility vehicles(Image: getty images)

An "in-vehicle toilet" that slides under a passenger seat for trips to the bathroom while driving has been granted a patent by Chinese automaker Seres. Engineers wrote in Seres' patent filing in China on April 10 that the feature is meant to "satisfy users' toilet needs on long journeys, while camping, or while staying in the car." 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.

 To stand out in a highly competitive market, Chinese electric vehicles have become increasingly packed with unusual features like built-in massage seats, karaoke systems, and fridges. The plans for an onboard toilet that can be activated by voice or pushed out from under a passenger's seat are shown in the patent filing by Seres. According to a filing on China's intellectual property administration seen by the BBC, the toilet will come equipped with an exhaust pipe and fan to remove smells from the vehicle. A tank that collects waste must be manually emptied. 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.

In-vehicle toilets are rare - mostly found in long-distance coaches - but are not unheard of in cars.

 According to auction house Sotheby's, a special 1950s Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith had a toilet beneath the passenger seat and a built-in television. Seres and its subsidiary brand Aito are well-known for producing electric sport utility vehicles, which are larger cars with more cargo space and a higher ground clearance. Most of the company's cars are sold in mainland China, though Seres has also expanded to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

 With dozens of competing brands, China's EV market has become heavily saturated leading to a costly price war that has chipped away at companies' profits.

 Seres is one of a handful of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, along with BYD, the market leader. Many analysts have sounded the alarm that a vast number of Chinese EV firms are at risk of collapse.

Source: BBC