Chinese carmaker Seres has been granted a patent for what it calls an “in-vehicle toilet” that slides under a passenger’s seat for a toilet-on-the-go. The feature is meant to provide restroom facilities on long journeys and while camping. Seres hasn’t announced any cars that have toilets and it’s uncertain if any will be made. To stand out in a highly competitive market, Chinese electric vehicles have become increasingly packed with unconventional features like built-in massage seats, karaoke systems, and a refrigerator. The latest, the under-seat toilet, comes with a fan and exhaust pipe to channel odors out of the car. Waste that’s collected in a tank has to 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 the car without requiring more room. In-vehicle toilets are rare, with most found in long-distance coaches, but they’re not unheard of in cars. In the 1950s, a special version of a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith included a in-built television set and a toilet beneath the passenger seat.
