Multifunctional Mechanically Reconfigurable Charging Ports for Electric Vehicles and Operating Thereof

Described herein are mechanically reconfigurable charging ports for electric vehicles and methods of operating electric vehicles comprising such ports. A charging port comprises external contacts, internal contacts, and a mechanical switch comprising a movable interconnecting unit and an actuator configured to change the position of the movable interconnecting unit relative to the external contacts and the internal contacts based on one of the operating modes of the charging port. Specifically, the movable interconnecting unit comprises a support and interconnectors attached to and supported by the interconnector support. Depending on the operating mode/position of the movable interconnecting unit, the interconnectors are for connections between different subsets of the external contacts and internal contacts. For example, the mechanically reconfigurable charging ports may support a combined DC-changing and export-power mode, an AC charging-only mode, a DC charging-only mode, and an export power-only mode.