The wild basil is still in my hand and as I chew a green leaf, releasing its strong, earthy flavours, the colours of Ibiza seem at once to be all around me: in taste, smell, sound and sight.

BBC: The three colours of Ibiza

Sometime this morning, a car dealer in Petaluma, California, will hand Mr. Chalouhi the keys to his new Nissan Leaf, and the young Silicon Valley tech-exec will drive off the lot and into our collective auto future.

FORBES: Welcome to the Future: First Nissan Leaf Delivered Today

Nissan, on the other hand, plans to make 550, 000 total units of the LEAF, with 150, 000 of them made in the Smyrna, Tenn.

FORBES: Nissan LEAF: Nondescript, As Planned