To　overcome　the　serious　thermal　recession　problem　that　has　been　associated　with　the　braking　torque　of　conventional　eddy　current　brakes,　and　to　conserve　energy,　this　paper　has　proposed　a　novel　self-excited　eddy　current　retarder　(S-ECR).　The　design　includes　a　stator　with　an　internally　cooled　channel,　a　rotor　with　double　salient　poles,　and　a　built-in　generator.　The　electromagnetic　field　analysis　and　the　performance　analysis　of　the　S-ECR　were　carried　out　using　the　finite-element　method.　The　S-ECR　performance　was　tested　at　a　test　bench.　The　test　results　showed　that　the　calculated　braking　torque　and　the　generator　performance　were　in　reasonable　agreement　with　the　measured　results.　The　braking　performance　did　not　obviously　diminish　during　the　continuous　braking　stage.　When　the　speed　was　1500　r/min　and　the　exciting　current　was　30　A,　the　braking　torque　could　reach　1600　N.m.