No as the charcoal catches and stores the gas fumes in the charcoal. Most back in the 70's that used carbs had a type of purge valve on top of them that normally have a manifold vacum line to the valve on top that was normally closed. Then it had another line that was ported vacum and did not get vacum until you stepped on the throttle so far and then the ported vacum would open the valve on top the canister and the manifold vacum would then purge the fumes out of the charcoal canister and burn them in the eng. Most usually have a filter on the bottom because the air has to flow through them so the manifold vacum can suck(purge) the gas fumes out of it into the eng. If you took the charcoal out it would just let the gas fumes go right out of the canister into the air like any of the older cars with no evap system. Most muscle cars of the 60's did not have any evap system and just vented the gas fumes on hot days to outside air. Newer fuel injected cars us solenoids controlled by PCM's to opperate and purge the canisters. You dont want it to purge at idle as then it would be to rich at times when at idle. So they purge when stepping on the gas driving down the road so you dont notice it while driving. Ron