A battery-driven bus has been developed by a group of British companies. The bus, a fifty-passenger single-deck【B1】, is to go into【B2】in Manchester shortly, and discussions with the Department of the Environment are【B3】to lead to a【B4】batch(批) of twenty going into【B5】passenger service in Manchester within two years. Unlike the small government-sponsored battery bus now【B6】trials in provincial cities,【B7】low speed and range effectively limits it to city-centre operation, the new Silent Rider,【B8】a range of 40 miles between charges and a【B9】of 40 m.p.h., will take【B10】with diesel(柴油) buses for normal urban and suburban【B11】. Its capital【B12】is higher【B13】lower maintenance and fuel costs bring it【B14】to a fully competitive cost with the diesel bus over a thirteen-year life, without【B15】into account the environmental benefits. The Chloride battery group, which is developing【B16】in partnership with SELNEC is confident【B17】a market potential of 400 vehicles a year. The bus weighs 16 tons,【B18】which the batteries and passengers account for 4【B19】. It has a single set of batteries, which take three and a half-hour to【B20】, against the normal eight hours of passenger traffic. 【B1】