To　improve　braking　power　density　of　the　eddy　current　retarder,　a　novel　hybrid　excitation　eddy　current　retarder　was　proposed.　The　work　and　control　principle　of　the　novel　retarder　were　introduced.　The　analytical　model　of　the　novel　retarder　was　established.　The　electromagnetic　field　model　of　the　novel　retarder　was　established　by　the　finite　element　method.　The　air　gap　flux　density　and　eddy　current　braking　torque　were　predicted　by　the　finite　element　method.　The　results　showed　that　the　braking　torque　of　the　novel　hybrid　excitation　retarder　was　larger　than　that　of　the　electric　excitation　retarder　at　the　same　ampere　turn　number.