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Does the plug in give off any toxic fumes?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by priusenvious1, Apr 13, 2016.

  1. priusenvious1

    priusenvious1 Member

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    Just wondering since I am planning to make a man-cave out of my garage and I plan on hanging out there, is there any harmful fumes after the electric charge runs out? If I park in the garage and then just start hanging out there, I want to make sure I'm not breathing anything toxic in.
     
  2. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    If you leave in LA, I feel sorry for you.breathing the common air................................
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    when you say, after the charge runs out, do you mean to leave the car in ready?
     
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  5. priusenvious1

    priusenvious1 Member

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    I mean if I am no longer running on the charge and running on hybrid instead, does the car give off fumes?
     
  6. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    If the engine (ICE) will run, of course !!!!
     
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  7. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Yes, virtually all engines make Carbon Monoxide. Do NOT leave any car running in a living space.
     
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    This reminds me of Arnold Schwarzengger's recent claim that internal combustion engines (ICE) are bad for society because you cannot live in an enclosed garage with one running. I want to stick him in the nearest coal plant, which ain't too far from here.

    A warmed up and properly operating Prius, will make very little CO. But if the room is totally enclosed you will deplete the oxygen and also fill the room with CO2. Eventually without adequate oxygen in the air, perhaps the Prius would start making Carbon monoxide. Note my garage has so many air leaks, I suspect I could get away with it. But you need adequate ventilation, if the car is running.

    As far as trace contaminants you have the 12v battery and the Li battery neither of which is expected to be a problem.

    At the same time recently, Schwarzenegger also said fossil fuels kill 7 million people annually and therefore are intolerable. But the 7 million he is talking about are the poor folks in China/India burning wood, dung, and coal in their houses without ventilation. I told my daughter that is the worst dis-information I've ever heard from a (former) elected official. But I do not think it was intentional disinformation, he just doesn't understand at all.
     
    #8 wjtracy, Apr 13, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2016
  9. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    Yes, the same toxic fumes that is emitted from any other internal combustion engine will come out the tail pipe when there is no charge left.
     
  10. IMkenNY

    IMkenNY Im just being nosy

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    I recall detecting toxic fumes from my garaged plugin Prius only once!
    Its was after a spirited drive back from picking up some tacos and beer :)

    On a more serious note, no toxic fumes while parked (turned off) or charging.
     
  11. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    The bigger risk, and this is for ALL vehicles not just plug-ins, is fire which sometimes seems to happen when the cars are just sitting there. So fire alarm in garage is probably a good idea.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    why would you want your car running while you're in your man cave?
     
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