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People have done engine swaps on Insights, even I think a V6.
But if you want an easier route to fixing an Insight with a bad battery pack, there are two IMHO much easier options:
1) Get a used replacement pack from a salvage yard. It'll run you about $400. You may need to get into rebalancing the pack, maybe swapping good "sticks" between packs to get one good pack, but it works.
2) Turbocharge it. It's been done: search for "Little Red Rocket" on InsightCentral. I've driven it, briefly, and it goes like a bat out of you know where.
Oh, and there's a possibly a third option, which is learning to downshift. I have a MIMA setup on mine, which allows the IMA to be turned off ('cause the pack just doesn't last through a 4500 ft climb). The engine will develop pretty good power in 2nd and 3rd. 5th is really an overdrive gear, for constant-speed cruising on the level. People not familiar with the car don't realize this, but you can't just punch the gas and expect it to accelerate in 5th. Drop to 3rd, and it'll go.
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