# Will a Prius stop when it runs out of gas?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-prius-stop-when-it-runs-out-of-gas/390773
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 4, 2007, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-prius-stop-when-it-runs-out-of-gas/390773 "2007-02-04T08:56:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2007, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-prius-stop-when-it-runs-out-of-gas/390773/1 "2007-02-04T08:56:26Z")
Driving home from the mall today I realized that I was really low on gas and the next gas station was still a couple miles down the road. So I got a bit nervous since I have run out of gas within sight of a filling station before.
If I owned a Prius and I ran down the tank would the car still run on the battery? I concede that it might not go very fast, but in those rare instances when I run out, would the battery provide me with enough to get to the filling station? How far would it theoretically take me?
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### Author:  [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-prius-stop-when-it-runs-out-of-gas/390773/2 "2007-02-04T14:06:53Z")
Toyota says NO.
> [@Totota](#):
>
> 1. Can Prius run on electricity when it runs out of gas?
>
> No. Though Prius can operate in electric-only mode when gasoline is in the tank, it is not designed to run without gasoline. Doing so could cause severe damage to the hybrid system, so drivers should be sure to keep gas in the tank at all times.
[http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2005/prius/faq.html](http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2005/prius/faq.html)
You might be able to get away if it is only 1/4 mile or so.
Brian
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### Author:  [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-prius-stop-when-it-runs-out-of-gas/390773/3 "2007-02-04T15:26:44Z")
Well that’s pretty retarded. Are they saying that running out of gas kills the car?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-prius-stop-when-it-runs-out-of-gas/390773/4 "2007-02-04T16:07:03Z")
[QUOTE=groman]
Well that’s pretty retarded. Are they saying that running out of gas kills the car?
[/QUOTE]
Only if you’re careless enough to force it to go all electric once that state is reached.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-prius-stop-when-it-runs-out-of-gas/390773/5 "2007-02-04T16:53:47Z")
Now are we talking damage to the battery by over-draining it?
Are we talking overheating the electric motor by demanding too much power for too long?
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### Author:  [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-prius-stop-when-it-runs-out-of-gas/390773/6 "2007-02-04T20:49:17Z")
[QUOTE=astro]
Only if you’re careless enough to force it to go all electric once that state is reached.
[/QUOTE]
I’m not sure I know what that entails though. Sounds to me like you run out of gas, the light comes on and you simply keep driving a few more hundred feet to reach the gas station and you damage your car. :dubious: