Here, we develop a quantitative understanding of the processes that drive an autonomous chemically-fueled molecular motor (Fig. ) using an analysis that incorporates concepts from information thermodynamics within the framework of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of open chemical reaction networks. Contrary to common models in stochastic thermodynamics , our framework neglects fluctuations and describes macroscopic ensembles of chemical species characterized by experimentally measurable concentrations. The approach is consistent with kinetic models but goes further by introducing a quantitative thermodynamic understanding of how autonomous molecular motors work. Two features, "information flow" and "energy flow", contribute to the transfer of free energy from the fuel to the machine that is the origin of current (i.e. the net rate of displacement of the macrocycle directionally along the track, see Box I) in the motor. The effect of changing chemical gating, power strokes ("a viscoelastic, free energy releasing, large-amplitude conformational change" ), and overall rates on current and efficiency (Box I) are examined through simulations, revealing design principles for molecular motors. Particular insight is gained in terms of the role of power strokes in tuning a motor's performance while remaining consistent with core aspects of kinetic models, informing the current debate concerning the role of power strokes in biomolecular machines. As a result, the mechanism of operation of the rotary motor can be understood in several different ways: through chemical design, reaction kinetics,