Converting a Car into a Mobile Toilet

Converting a car into a mobile toilet has seen some related practices in the automotive circle, but it has also sparked certain controversies.

Existing Practice Cases

• Seres: It has applied for a utility model patent for a "vehicle-mounted toilet and vehicle". Its vehicle-mounted toilet adopts a sliding rail design. It is usually hidden under the front passenger and driver seats, not taking up extra space. When in use, it can be pulled out with one click, making the operation very convenient. It is equipped with a 5L sealed feces collection box that can effectively collect excrement and prevent leakage. The negative pressure deodorization system can promptly remove odors, keeping the air inside the car fresh. The constant temperature heating function provides a comfortable toilet temperature. Disposable toilet bags are easy to replace, ensuring hygiene. The foldable privacy curtain can protect the privacy of users.
• Ironman Auto: In 2024, it launched a vehicle-mounted toilet accessory, which is placed in the position of the central storage box. When in use, you just need to lift the lid and put on a toilet seat cover. The installation and removal are relatively simple.

Supporting Views

• Meeting specific needs: For family users who often go on long-distance self-driving trips and off-road enthusiasts, this design is highly practical. When driving on highways with children, cases of children having urgent needs to use the toilet frequently occur. With a vehicle-mounted toilet, the problem can be solved in a timely manner. When going to wild areas in no-man's land, it can also solve the privacy and hygiene issues of using the toilet, avoiding the inconvenience and unhygienic conditions of defecating anywhere in the wild.

Opposing Views

• Low usage frequency: For most daily commuting users, the need to use the toilet inside the car is very low. The vehicle-mounted toilet may become an idle configuration, resulting in a waste of resources.
• Poor experience: The space inside the car is relatively narrow, and the range of movement when using the toilet is limited. The comfort level is far inferior to that of a traditional toilet.
• Difficulty in isolating odors: Even with a negative pressure deodorization system, when used for a long time or when there is a large amount of excrement, there may still be residual odors, affecting the air quality inside the car.
• Difficulty in ensuring privacy: Although there is a foldable privacy curtain, in some situations, such as when the vehicle is in motion or when the surrounding environment is noisy, it may still be impossible to fully protect the privacy of users.
• Safety hazards: There are concerns that in the event of an accident collision, the metal parts under the seats and the excrement may mix together. Not only is it difficult to clean up, but it may also cause secondary injuries to the occupants inside the car.