Looking for a roundup of the latest and most important news from the automotive world? You’ve found it in the Daily Drive-Thru. Check it out every weekday to see what you missed and what you need to know.  The Drive-Thru life ain't easy, but it's better than driving for Uber.  FOLLOW DAILY NEWS AUTOS ON FACEBOOK. 'LIKE' US HERE  If Uber actually employed its drivers in California and Massachusetts, it would have had to pay them an additional $730 million for expense reimbursements, according to a lawsuit filed against the tech company. Drivers in the two states, who are technically contractors for Uber, are seeking compensation for fuel costs and vehicle repairs incurred because of the miles logged during ride shares.  In total, the drivers are seeking $852 million in total damages, including tips they hope to recover. Uber’s primary rival, Lyft, is facing a similar lawsuit from its drivers. It seems like autonomous cars can’t come soon enough for the ride-hailing startups.  The light at the end of the tunnel might finally be in sight for Volkswagen. The German automaker is said to be closing in on a fix to the emissions-cheating software that it installed in vehicles around the world that were outfitted with 3.0-liter diesel-powered TDI engines.  Volkswagen is ironing out the final details for the software update that could neutralize the so-called defeat device software in 85,000 Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen brand vehicles. The program artificially suppressed nitrogen oxide emissions during testing so the vehicles could appear to meet environmental standards when, in reality, some of the cars put out 40-times the permitted amount of emissions.  Officials in the European Union are accusing Volkswagen and Shell of attempting to block the proliferation of battery-powered and other clean vehicles by releasing a comprehensive study of biofuels. The E.U. plans on rolling out a pair of ambitious fuel efficiency standards for 2025 and 2030.  Volkswagen and Shell have a different idea. The companies are promoting a study that points to biofuels, CO2 car labeling and the EU’s emissions trading system as more realistic ways of curbing emissions. An E.U. source told The Guardian that the results of the study were fixed by its financiers, saying: “these two industries have realized they have a shared interest. When you saw who was paying for the study, you knew what the answer would be.”  Scientists at Scotland’s Edinburgh University have found that non-exhaust emissions from electric, hybrid and other clean vehicles might actually be more harmful to the environment than their gasoline- and diesel-powered counter parts.  Researchers Peter Achten and Victor Timmers concluded that because of additional weight and slower acceleration of the battery-powered cars, their tires and brakes wear down more quickly. According to their study, the particles from the brake pads and tires, which are kicked up into the air, are roughly as toxic as the emissions from a standard engine.  Source: The Daily Mail, The Sunday Times  With the premium being put on electric vehicles and clean energy as a whole within the automotive industry, Nissan has hired a sustainability chief to oversee the company’s resource conservation, vehicle safety and fuel efficiency.  Senior Vice President Hitoshi Kawaguchi was promoted to the position, from which he will address issues related to climate change and urbanization.  Did you find this article helpful? If so, please share it using the "Join the Conversation" buttons below, and thank you for visiting Daily News Autos.
Also, an E.U. official accuses companies of falsifying study, Nissan focuses on sustainability, and more in today's Daily Drive-Thru.