Charging inlet

A charging inlet comprising:

• a charging inlet main body configured to be installed in a vehicle and including a tubular hood,
• wherein the hood is configured for fitting a connected end of a charging connector therein to connect the connected end to the charging inlet main body so that power is supplied to the charging inlet main body from the charging connector;
• a lock mechanism including a pin element,
• wherein the pin element is configured to extend through a tubular wall of the hood to enter an inside of the hood,
• wherein when the charging connector is connected to the charging inlet main body, the lock mechanism is configured to introduce a tip end of the pin element into the inside of the hood to cause the tip end to enter a lock recess in an outer surface of the connected end so that removal of the charging connector is limited during a charging process;
• and
• a pin heating section configured to heat the pin element.