It's been hyped as the savior for General Motors, but at least one prominent fan of the Chevrolet Volt worries the plug could be pulled on the electric car without an auto bailout.

Neurosurgeon Lyle J. Dennis, founder of GM-Volt.com, an enthusiast Web site that has been tracking production developments of the Volt, wrote a letter to Congress, President George W. Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson this month urging passage of the $25 billion rescue plan.

The letter was posted to the site earlier this month, with Dennis urging the 45,000 members of his site to follow his lead.

"General Motors' upcoming Chevy Volt represents the future of this country," Dennis wrote. "The ability to drive without gasoline and on U.S.-produced electricity will usher in a fantastic new era of petroleum independence and a vast enterprise of related green technologies, including the critical field of advanced battery production."

General Motors unveiled the production version of the Volt in September to help mark the company's 100th anniversary.

The Volt is expected to be able to drive up to 40 miles without gasoline on its electric charge.

"Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century," said Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and CEO. "The Volt is symbolic of GM's strong commitment to the future. It's just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today's and tomorrow's energy and environmental challenges."

The Chevrolet Volt was originally introduced as a concept car at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator provides electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery.

The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240-volt outlet or about eight hours on a standard household 120-volt outlet.

Production is scheduled to begin late 2010 for models in the United States.

The trade publication Automotive News reported on its Web site that the Detroit-based automaker is cutting spending on engineering, design and development and may even delay the new Chevrolet Cruze small car, due to start production in 2010.

However, GM officials have said the Volt is protected from the cutbacks.

Volt spokesman David Darovitz told GM-Volt.com earlier this month that, "No doubt these are challenging times for the entire auto industry. However, the Chevrolet Volt remains a high priority product program at General Motors. There is no intention to delay the development of the program. We remain committed to our late 2010 timing."

Dennis though, worries that without the bailout, GM might not be around long enough to deliver on the Volt's promise.

"As unpalatable as the notion of corporate federal bailouts are for you, me, and many Americans, there appears to be no alternative," he wrote.