Most　of　the　kinetic　energy　of　car　is　transformed　into　heat　with　the　traditional　retarder.　Then　the　heat　is　dissipating　to　the　environment.　A　energy　recovery　retarder　is　introduced　in　this　paper　in　order　to　overcome　the　shortcoming　of　the　traditional　retarder.　The　special　single-phase　switched　reluctance　motor　is　selected　as　the　energy　recovery　retarder　because　of　the　launch　of　conditions.　This　solution　has　advantages　such　as　large　braking　torque,　simple　structure,　durable.　The　new　retarder　is　easy　to　integrate　with　gearbox.　it　can　adjust　the　speed　of　the　first　shaft　of　the　gearbox.　A　single-phase　switched　reluctance　motor　for　the　retarder　is　designed　in　this　paper.　The　theoretical　calculation　and　simulation　with　Ansoft　software　is　carried　on.　The　calculation　and　simulation　results　show　that　the　new　retarder　has　energy　recovery　function.　©　2011　IEEE.