Seres, a Chinese smart electric vehicle manufacturer, has been granted a patent for a "mobile toilet" hidden beneath a sliding seat. It can be operated by voice commands and includes odor elimination and waste management systems, aiming to capture market share in the fiercely competitive electric vehicle sector.
According to China's government patent database, Seres, an EV manufacturer under the AITO brand (developed in partnership with Huawei), officially received approval for a patent on an "in-car toilet" device on 10 Apr 2024 GMT+7. This innovation is designed to address the needs of long-distance drivers, those living in their vehicles, and camping enthusiasts.
The key aspect of this patent is efficient use of space. The toilet bowl is mounted on a concealed sliding rail under the passenger seat. Users can activate it by either manually sliding the seat or issuing the voice command "Start up toilet function" to prepare the system for use.
Concerns have been raised about hygiene and odors inside the cabin. Seres engineers addressed these issues in the patent by describing solutions includinga fan and exhaust pipe mechanism that directly expels unpleasant odors outside the vehicle, whilewaste is stored in a tank that must be emptied periodically. Additionally, a rotating heater helps evaporate urine and dries other waste to reduce bacterial growth and odors.
This patent illustrates the intense competition in China’s electric vehicle market, where manufacturers strive to attract customers with unique features. For example, Nio offers heated massage seats, BYD introduced an integrated smart drone system, and XPeng plans to deliver a "flying car" (Land Aircraft Carrier) within this year.
Although patent number CN224104011U has been approved, actual production faces significant challenges both in engineering—such as integrating piping systems into EV chassis crowded with batteries—and in addressing the "psychological" hurdle of users adapting to personal hygiene activities inside the vehicle cabin.
Currently, Seres has not announced which models will include this toilet, but experts expect it may be offered as a personal optional feature in the future, particularly in flagship models like the AITO M9, which is undergoing a redesign to boost its slowing sales.
/sourceAFP/CarNewsChina.com