Car with Mobile Toilet

Seres Automobile Co., Ltd. once applied for a utility model patent for a 'vehicle-mounted toilet and vehicle', and the mobile toilet designed for small cars has certain innovation but also sparks controversy.

Patent Design Details

The patent applied for by Seres Automobile Co., Ltd. features a slide-rail design for the vehicle-mounted toilet. Normally, it is hidden beneath the driver's and passenger's seats, not occupying interior space or disrupting the aesthetic. With a single button press, it can be pulled out for use and pushed back into place afterward. It is equipped with a 5L sealed waste collection tank, a negative-pressure odor removal system, constant-temperature heating, disposable toilet bags, and a foldable privacy curtain. The design is intended to address the challenge of finding restrooms during long-distance travel or highway traffic jams, leveraging the long range of new energy vehicles suitable for self-driving trips.

Supporters' Perspectives

For family users and off-road enthusiasts who frequently embark on long-distance self-driving trips, this design is highly practical. For instance, when driving on highways with children, urgent restroom needs cannot wait for service areas; with this hidden toilet, one can simply stop and use it. When traversing uninhabited areas, privacy and hygiene issues related to outdoor restroom use can also be resolved. During long-distance trips, service areas may be unevenly distributed, or traffic jams may occur; in such cases, the vehicle-mounted toilet can promptly meet restroom needs, enhancing travel convenience and comfort.

Opponents' Perspectives

On one hand, the usage frequency is low; it is rarely needed for daily commuting, and on long-distance trips, service areas on highways are abundant, making it rare to be unable to find a restroom. On the other hand, the restroom experience inside the car is poor; completing the entire process takes at least 5 to 10 minutes. Moreover, odors are difficult to completely eliminate; even with a negative-pressure odor removal system, it is challenging to avoid all odors in a confined car cabin. Additionally, privacy is hard to guarantee; although there is a foldable privacy curtain, the independent and limited space inside the car cannot provide a completely private restroom environment.